4) What are the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy Schemes?
7) What rent will I pay in a Capital Assistance Scheme (Voluntary Housing)?
8) How do I qualify for renting housing provided by a Voluntary Housing Association
9) Can I buy my house in Capital Assistance Scheme (Voluntary Housing)?
1) What documentation should accompany my application for approved status under the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy schemes?
The following documents must accompany your application: (a) the memorandum and articles of association, rules or constitution of the body seeking approval, together with a copy of its certificate of incorporation or registration. (b) names and addresses of its officers and of all the members of its governing body or board of directors or trustees, the address of its registered office and the address of the secretary, if different from the registered office (c) a description of its existing and/or proposed activities, plans or programmes (d) information on its current financial position, including latest statements of audited accounts, if available.
2) What amount of funding is available under the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy schemes?
In County Laois the following funding limits apply : Capital Assistance Scheme – One and two person units (Category I) €150,000 per unit. Family type houses (Category II) and Traveller bays (Category III) €170,000 per unit. Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme – €170,000 per unit and Site Costs of €50,000
3) How can my organisation qualify for funding under the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy schemes?
To be eligible for funding a Voluntary Housing Organisation must be registered as an ‘Approved Housing Body’. This approved status is obtained through the Voluntary Housing Unit, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. TEL: (01) 8882328.
4) What are the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy Schemes?
These schemes are financed by the Dept. of the Environment and are administered by Local Authorities. They give funding to approved Housing bodies to provide rental housing for people who could not otherwise afford to provide suitable accommodation from their own resources.
5) How long does the application for the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy schemes take to process?
On receipt of an application for funding Laois County Council fully evaluate the proposed project. When satisfied that the scheme represents value for money, meets the social housing design guidelines, and meets a housing need a recommendation is prepared for funding to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
6) How does an approved body apply for funding under the Capital Assistance and Capital Loan & Subsidy Schemes?
An application must be made on the official forms – CAS1 when seeking funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme or LSS1 when seeking funding under the Capital Loan & Subsidy Scheme. Application forms must be submitted together with drawings/plans of the proposed development, detailed costing, copy of planning permission (only projects where planning permission has been granted will be considered.
7) What rent will I pay in a Capital Assistance Scheme (Voluntary Housing)?
The approved housing bodies are responsible for the fixing of rents. Approved housing bodies should fix rents at levels which are reasonable having regard to tenant’s incomes and the outlay of the approved housing body on the project.
8) How do I qualify for renting housing provided by a Voluntary Housing Association
All rented dwelling units provided in any scheme are allocated to persons on Laois County Council’s Assessment of Housing Need.
9) Can I buy my house in Capital Assistance Scheme (Voluntary Housing)?
No. The voluntary housing schemes do not allow the purchase by individual tenants of their houses.