Buying Domestic Ground Rent (Freehold)
If you purchased your home from Dublin City Council during or after May 1978, then your home is a freehold property. This means that you own the land on which your home stands.
Am I a leasehold owner or a freehold owner?
If you purchased your home from Dublin City Council before May 1978, then your home is a leasehold property. This means that you do not own the ground on which your home stands. The time frame of a leasehold property can either be 99 years or 150 years.
I am a leasehold owner
If you decide to sell, re-mortgage or transfer your home, you must get permission from Dublin City Council.
How can I buy out my ground rent?
Please complete the application form/Gaeilge for the purchase of the fee simple (legal term for owning both land and property). The process can take up to 12 weeks.
- The purchase of the fee simple is calculated on a multiple of the annual ground rent charge, which can change monthly, plus any arrears due
- There is also a Land Registry fee of €135.00 and an administration fee of €30.39
Note: There may be stamp duty payable.
What happens next?
Once the ground rent has been purchased, the sale of the fee simple is completed by Dublin City Council’s Law Department. A transfer order will be issued by the Land Registry to transfer the ownership from Dublin City Council to you. Your property record will be updated to show you as the full owner of both land and property.
Contact Us
Ground Rent Section
Housing Rents and Tenant Purchase Section
Civic Offices, Dublin 8
T. 01 222 5368