Affordable Housing Resources

Step 1: Register

Register on the website. You will need your full name, a valid and active email address, and you will create and confirm your password. You will receive a signup verification email (check your spam folder) confirming that an account has been created. You can log in after you have activated your account. After activation, you will be asked to finalise your registration. If you have already registered with Dublin City Council's Citizen Hub, you can use the same login details. Please confirm your details before an application goes live.

Step 2: Online Application

On the Affordable Homes website, click Online Application for the development you wish to apply for. Please ensure you select the correct development.

Step 3: The Application

You will be presented with several sections to complete. Each required field must be completed before progressing.

1. General Details

Select the property or properties you want to apply for. You may apply for a maximum of two property types within one application. Once you progress to the next section, you cannot amend your property selection. Ensure your selection is affordable and correct.

2. Documents and Privacy

You will be presented with a list of required documents. You must confirm that you have read and accepted Dublin City Council’s privacy policy.

3. Applicant Details

Indicate whether this is a joint application. The main applicant must provide personal details and evidence, including name, DOB, contact details, address, PPSN, relationship status and nationality status. You may now save your application.

4. Income Main Applicant

The main applicant must confirm employment status and upload evidence. Any additional income can also be included. All forms of Reckonable Income are outlined in the Documentation Checklist and Income Means Policy on the website.

5. Property Ownership Information

Declare whether you or your joint applicant have previously built, purchased, or hold any interest in a property. Applicants applying under the Fresh Start Principle or Unsuitable Accommodation Principle must upload evidence here.

6. Mortgage Approval

State whether you have Mortgage Approval in Principle (MAIP). Upload evidence from your mortgage provider. If you do not have MAIP at the time of applying, you must upload it before the closing date.

7. Initial Timestamp

Review your details and declare them correct. Once submitted, you will receive your initial timestamp. You must click Save to lock it in. You then have 30 minutes to complete all remaining sections. If you exceed 30 minutes, you will lose your original timestamp and receive a new one on final submission.

8. Financial Statements

Confirm First Time Buyer status and upload evidence. Upload the most recent financial statements for all accounts for both main and joint applicants.

9. Joint Applicant Details

This section appears only if you selected a joint application. The joint applicant must provide personal details and supporting documents, including name, DOB, contact details, address, PPSN, relationship status, relationship to main applicant, and nationality status.

10. Additional Household Members

Enter the total number of people who will live in the Affordable Home, including dependants. For each dependant, provide name, DOB, PPSN and relationship to the main applicant. Do not repeat details for the main or joint applicant.

11. Income Joint Applicant

If applying jointly, the joint applicant must confirm employment status, provide evidence, and record any additional income. Reckonable Income is outlined in the Documentation Checklist and Income Means Policy.

12. Resident of Dublin City Council

If demand exceeds supply, 30% of homes will be allocated through a randomised lottery for eligible applicants who can provide evidence of residency in the Dublin City Council area for three consecutive years. Only one applicant in a joint application needs to meet this requirement. Documentation requirements are listed in the Documentation Checklist.

13. Eligibility

Applicants must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria. An FAQ section is available if needed.

14. Summary

The final section displays a summary of your information. Review carefully and declare it accurate. You may amend joint applicant details if required. Click Submit to complete your application. You will receive an email confirming submission.

If you submit after the 30‑minute window, your original timestamp is lost and a new one is issued at submission time. Submitting within the 30‑minute window preserves your initial timestamp.

Dublin City Council Scheme of Priority for Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangements

The Affordable Housing Act 2021 (No. 25 of 2021) was enacted on 21 July 2021. Part 2 of the Act and regulations (S.I. No. 20 of 2023) Affordable Housing Regulations 2023 and (S.I. No. 21 of 2023) Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2023 apply.

As adopted by Dublin City Council on 6 November 2023.

The purpose of this Scheme of Priority is to set out how affordable dwelling purchase arrangements are made available by Dublin City Council (the Council), and the method used to determine priority where demand exceeds the number of dwellings or resources available. This Scheme is made under Section 11 of the Act.

Eligibility of households will be assessed in accordance with Section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and the Affordable Housing Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 20 of 2023).

Part 1: Manner in Which Affordable Dwellings Will Be Made Available

1. Council Actions

Where the Council intends to make dwellings available for sale to eligible applicants under affordable dwelling purchase arrangements, it will:

1.1 Income Limits

Calculate the relevant income limits, in accordance with legislation, for determining a household’s eligibility for each type of dwelling.

1.2 Advertising

In advance of completion of the dwellings, the Council will advertise their availability in at least one newspaper circulating within the administrative area and on a Council‑maintained website.

1.3 Information Included in the Advertisement

The advertisement will include:

• The location, number, and type of dwellings to be sold.
• That the dwellings will generally only be available to first‑time buyers, with certain exceptions.
• That dwellings will be sold at a price below market value (based on purchaser income), and the Council will take a percentage equity share equal to the difference between the market value and the purchase price.
• That the Council’s equity may be redeemed later by the purchaser. Minimum repayment amounts apply under section 16(1) of the Act and Regulation 7 of the Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2023.
• That dwellings will be allocated to eligible applicants in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Priority. Date and time of application is one of the criteria used for prioritisation.
• The minimum purchase prices and typical gross income limits for each dwelling type.
• The application process, where application forms and information may be obtained, the opening date for applications, required documentation, and the closing date for submissions.

2. Application Restrictions

Applications will only be considered for the dwellings advertised. A household must submit a separate application for each advertisement they wish to apply for.

Part 2: Order of Priority for Eligible Households

3. Use of Scheme of Priority

Where eligible applicants exceed available dwellings, this Scheme of Priority will determine the order of allocation.

4. Order of Application

Applications received before the closing date will be assigned an order of application. Applications that appear to meet eligibility criteria will be considered eligible for prioritisation, subject to later documentary confirmation.

5. Suitable Dwelling Types

The Council will determine which dwelling types adequately meet the needs of each household. More than one type may be suitable.

5.1 Dwelling Type Criteria

5.2 Date and Time Priority

If eligible applications still exceed available dwellings after applying section 5.1, priority is given based on the date and time of application.

5.3 Additional Documentation

Additional documentation may be requested to assess a household’s priority. This must be provided before an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Arrangement is offered.

6. Priority for 30% of Dwellings

For 30% of dwellings accepted under Regulation 5(1) and 5(2) of the Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2023, the Council will prioritise applicants in the following order:

6.1 Household Size

Priority is first given to households whose accommodation needs align with the dwelling type criteria in section 5.1.

6.2 Further Prioritisation

If applications still exceed available dwellings:

• Priority is given to eligible households where any applicant is, or has been, a resident in the Dublin City Council administrative area for at least three years.
• If the number of qualifying applicants still exceeds supply, a randomised and verifiable order of priority will be applied.

Affordable Housing Income Assessment Policy

1. Background and Purpose

This policy, issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, sets out how housing authorities shall assess the income of applicants for the purpose of determining eligibility for an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement under section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and Regulation 2 of the Affordable Housing Regulations 2022.

2. Income Assessed as Gross Income

Eligibility under Regulation 2(1) of the Affordable Housing Regulations 2022 is based on the applicant’s average gross income over the 12 months prior to the date the application is received. The income of all persons making the application is assessed.

3. Assessable Income

The following types of income are assessable for determining eligibility for affordable dwelling purchase arrangements, except where noted in section 4:

• Income from employment including overtime, bonuses and commissions:
  • Overtime: generally restricted to a maximum of 10% of basic income, unless regular.
  • Bonus: restricted to a maximum of 10% of basic income.
  • Commission: restricted to a maximum of 30% of basic income where applicable.
• Income from self-employment.
• Maintenance payments received.
• Income from rental properties, dividends, capital investments, and similar sources (subject to guidelines issued by the Minister).
• Occupational and social welfare pensions from any source, including abroad.
• Income from social insurance and social assistance payments,