Local Authority Home Loan Key Features

First Time Buyer Status

In order to qualify for the Local Authority Home Loan scheme, each applicant must be a first-time buyer (applicants cannot have previously, either individually or jointly, purchased or built on their own behalf, a residential property either in Ireland or elsewhere) or be otherwise eligible through the Fresh Start principle.

As an applicant you are required to declare that you are a first time buyer(s). You must provide your Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) and consent to authorise the Local Authority to conduct such checks as are necessary to confirm this, such as conducting a Local Property Tax check and Central Credit Register check.

Joint Applicant Status

For the purposes of a joint application, all applicants must qualify as first-time buyers except where an applicant is eligible under the Fresh Start principle. Joint applicants can be two or more persons who apply for a housing loan together.

Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan, you must be:

The requirement that a single or sole earner must have at least two years continuous employment and the second applicant must have at least one year of continuous employment is relaxed for periods where an applicant was unemployed as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation. Generally, affected applicants who were in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) up to 5 April 2022 are not considered to have had a break in employment in the two preceding years if the following conditions are met:

Contract Employment Income

Contract income will be considered in repayment capacity provided:

Further evidence of contract employment may be sought by the Local Authority.

Credit Check

Mortgage Protection Insurance

Mortgage Protection Insurance is a form of insurance which pays off the outstanding balance on your mortgage should you die before the mortgage is fully repaid. The Local Authority MPI scheme is a group scheme. It is obligatory for all borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria to join the scheme.

Full terms and conditions of the scheme are available from your local authority.