Affordable Purchase Scheme

Using the Affordable Housing Fund, we will make homes available at a reduced price for buyers seeking a newly built home but needing to bridge the gap between their mortgage and deposit to cover the full purchase price.

The Affordable Home Purchase Scheme provides purchasers with what is known as an equity facility. This means purchasers will enter into an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement with us and receive funds in return for the Council taking a percentage ownership in the purchased property. The percentage ownership we hold in your home is called an equity share.

The purchaser can redeem or 'buy out' this equity share at a time of their choosing, but there is no obligation to do so. If the purchaser chooses not to redeem the equity share while living in the home, the Council can do so when the property is sold or transferred, or after the owner's death.

The Affordable Home Purchase Scheme is aimed at households that can use their combined deposit and approved maximum mortgage but cannot afford the home at its open market value.

Further details on the Affordable Housing Scheme can be found in the Related Documents section below.

When a new scheme is being launched, all the relevant details will be available on this webpage.

All queries on Affordable Housing can be sent to afford@dlrcoco.ie

Please click here to see the eligibility criteria for the scheme. 

While it is not required, applicants are recommended to have their Mortgage Approval in Principle before applying for Affordable Housing, or at least be in a position to apply for a mortgage. 

Under Affordable Housing Legislation, you must borrow the maximum mortgage amount you qualify for.

Click here for more information on being mortgage ready.

A minimum deposit of 10% of the property's purchase price is also required, so applicants should ensure they have sufficient savings before applying. First-time buyer applicants can avail of the Help to Buy Scheme. Help to Buy is available for properties with an open market value of €500,000.00 or less. The Revenue Commissioners operate this scheme.

Click here for more information on the Help to Buy Scheme.

There will be an individual application for each Affordable Housing Scheme; there is no general application form or waiting list. 

When affordable homes are made available for purchase, they will be advertised in the following places:

• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s website
• Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Social Media pages
• In a local/national newspapers

The advertisement will include details about the scheme, including how and when to apply. 

Applications will be accepted through an online application portal. On the day the application portal opens, you must first register, then complete the online application form and submit the requested documentation.

Applications will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will publish a link to the application portal and a list of required documentation on its website. A video guide on completing an application will also be available.

Your application will be assessed to determine whether you qualify for an affordable dwelling. Once Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has assessed all applications and determined eligibility, it will contact all applicants to advise whether they were successful and whether they will receive an offer, depending on the number of properties available.

Please click here to find the list of required documentation for applications for Affordable Purchase Schemes.

Scheme of Priority

As well as the above eligibility criteria, a Scheme of Priority was approved by the Elected Members of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on 9th January 2023.

The purpose of the Scheme of Priority is to outline the rules Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council uses to decide which applicants will be offered dwellings. The Scheme of Priority will apply in the event that there are more eligible applicants than affordable homes available. The main points are as follows:

• The property must be suited to your household’s needs.

• In relation to 70% of the dwellings, the date and time of application will be one of the criteria on which eligible applications will be prioritized under the Council’s Scheme of Priority, i.e., properties will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• In relation to 30% of the dwellings, priority will be given to eligible applicants based on any person making the application being or having been resident in the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council for a minimum period of 8 years, and applicants will be selected through a lottery process as per the scheme of priority.

Please click here to view Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's Scheme of Priority.

This initiative targets first-time buyers and ‘fresh start’ applicants. Details around who can qualify under the ‘Fresh Start Principle’ is available here.

Please click here to see the Statutory Notice for St Laurence's Park.