This post is designed to be your go-to reference for understanding housing terms in the context of Ireland. This extensive post will include simple definitions, government schemes, planning processes and more. We hope this will be suitable for both first-time buyers and seasoned property professionals.
In order to achieve the above, we will make sure to update this glossary continuously over time.
A
Affordable Housing
Homes that are sold at prices below market rates, usually supported by government schemes to assist low- to middle-income earners.
AHBs (Approved Housing Bodies)
Not-for-profit housing organisations that provide social and affordable homes in Ireland, often with government support. There are over 500 AHBs in Ireland and the most popular Big 6 include:
- Clúid
- Respond
- Tuath
- Oaklee Housing
- Circle Voluntary Housing Association and
- Co-operative Housing Ireland
An Bord Pleanala
A national independent planning body that decides appeals on planning decisions made by local authorities
B
BER (Building Energy Rating)
A label that indicates the energy efficiency of a property, rated from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
An A rating is very typical of new developments while the G rating mostly includes derelict or older homes with very poor ot noninexistent insulation.
Buy and Renew Scheme (BRS)
The Buy and Renew Scheme supports local authorities in buying and renewing housing units in need of repair and making them available for social housing use.
Buy-to-Let
A property that is bought with the intention of renting it out to tenants.
Building Control Regulations
Rules ensuring that construction and alteration works comply with minimum safety, health, and sustainability standards. In Ireland, building control regulations are overseen by 31 Local Authorities under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014.
C
Capital Assistance Scheme
This scheme provides financial support to Approved Housing Bodies for social housing, mainly for priority groups such as the elderly, homeless, and the disabled.
Central Bank Mortgage Rules
Lending limits set by the Central Bank of Ireland on how much buyers can borrow based on income and deposit size.
Choice based Letting
Under this scheme, councils try to speed up the social housing allocation process by advertising vacancies in the media so people can register their interest in them.
Cost-Rental Scheme
A housing scheme where rent is based on the cost of construction and maintenance, not market rates. Cost rental homes in Ireland are delivered by approved housing bodies (AHB’s), local authorities and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
Conveyancing
The legal process of transferring property ownership from seller to buyer.
Council House
Publicly owned housing provided by AHBs and local authorities for low-income tenants.
D
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – The primary state department that oversees national housing policy and development, including social and affordable housing.
Deposit Contribution Scheme – A government-backed initiative providing financial assistance towards a homebuyer’s deposit. The various schemes in Ireland include the Help-to-Buy Scheme and the First Home Scheme.
Development Plan – A statutory document created by local authorities outlining land use, zoning, and infrastructure planning over a period of time.
Downsizing (Rightsizing) – Moving from a larger home to a smaller one, often for financial or lifestyle reasons.
E
Energy Efficient Retrofit – Renovation aimed at improving a home’s energy performance, often involving insulation and heating upgrades.
Enhanced Long Term Leasing Scheme
A scheme that involves local authorities leasing properties from private landlords to accommodate individuals on their housing waiting list. These schemes offer long-term housing solutions, often for periods of 10-20 years, with the local authority acting as the landlord and paying the rent.
Eviction Ban – Temporary legal protection preventing landlords from evicting tenants under certain circumstances.
Exempted Development – Certain types of construction or changes to a building or home that do not require planning permission from the local council.
F
First Home Scheme
The First Home Scheme (FHS) is an affordable housing scheme, which supports you to buy a new home or to build your first home. The FHS is a shared equity scheme, meaning that the government and participating banks pay up to 30% of the cost of your new home in return for a stake in the home.
Fixed Rate Mortgage – A home loan where the interest rate stays the same for a set period, offering predictable repayments.
Freehold – Ownership of both the building and the land it stands on.
G
GDA (Greater Dublin Area) – The area covering Dublin and its commuter counties: Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, and Louth.
Grant of Planning Permission – An official document from a local authority allowing a proposed development to proceed.
H
Help to Buy (HTB) Scheme
A tax refund initiative to help first-time buyers of newly built homes with their deposit. It gives a refund of the income tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) you have paid in Ireland for the 4 years before the year you apply.
It only applies to properties that cost €500,000 or less and you must live in the property as your home.
Housing Adaptation Grant
Financial assistance for home adaptations for older people or those with a disability.
Housing Agency, The
A government body that aims to accelerate housing supply. It works closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) – and also implements the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)
A social housing support that helps eligible renters pay their rent through local authority funding. If you are on HAP, your local authority pays your rent directly to your landlord. And you pay a weekly HAP rent contribution to your local authority, based on your income and ability to pay.
Housing Czar – A new term used to describe a senior government figure appointed to oversee housing delivery and strategy.
Housing Finance Agency (HFA)
A state-owned company that provides loans to local authorities and AHBs for social housing construction. They also lend to local authorities for waste and environment capital projects.
I
Income Threshold – The maximum household income level to qualify for social or affordable housing supports.
J
Judicial Review – A legal process where planning decisions can be challenged in court, often leading to housing delays.
K
Key Worker Housing – Affordable housing targeted at essential workers such as nurses, teachers, and Gardaí.
L
Land Development Agency (LDA) – A state agency tasked with developing public land for affordable and social housing.
Leasehold – Ownership of a property for a fixed term, typically within a building where the land is owned by someone else.
Local Authorities (City & County Councils) – Manage social housing, housing grants, and housing lists at the local/county level. There are 31 local authorities in Ireland at this time.
Local Authority Home Loan
A Government backed mortgage and loan for the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable homes. The property must be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, whether derelict, non-habitable or simply vacant.
M
Mortgage Approval in Principle – A non-binding estimate of how much a lender may allow you to borrow, useful when house hunting.
Modular Homes – Homes built in sections off-site and assembled on location, offering faster build times and reduced costs.
Mortgage Interest Relief – A tax relief on interest paid on a qualifying mortgage (limited to older mortgages).
Mortgage to Rent Scheme
Helps mortgage holders at risk of losing their homes to stay in them as social housing tenants.Helps mortgage holders at risk of losing their homes to stay in them as social housing tenants. Under the Mortgage to Rent Scheme, you will voluntarily surrender ownership of your home to your lender and a third party will buy your home from your lender.
N
National Planning Framework (NPF)
The Irish Government’s long-term strategy for managing population growth and regional development.
Notice to Quit
Formal notice from a landlord to a tenant to vacate a rental property.
O
Occupancy Rate
A measure of how fully housing units or rental properties are utilised.
Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR)
Ensures that local authorities and An Bord Pleanála support and implement Government planning policy.
They also implement planning research, training and public awareness in order to promote the public’s engagement in the planning process and to enhance knowledge and public information about planning in Ireland.
Owner-Occupier
A person who owns and lives in the property they occupy.
Owner Management Company (OMC)
A legal entity, typically a not-for-profit, that manages the common areas and services of apartment blocks or estates. It is established under the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (MUD Act).
P
Part V Housing
A requirement that developers allocate a portion of new housing (typically 10%) for social or affordable use.
Planning Permission
Approval from a local authority to build, extend, or significantly alter a property.
Protected Structure
A building of historical or architectural interest protected under the Planning Acts.
Q
Qualifying Conditions
The specific requirements an applicant must meet to be eligible for a housing scheme or grant.
R
Rapid Build
A construction method aimed at delivering housing quickly, often used for modular or temporary housing.
Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)
A scheme run by local authorities for people that are getting Rent Supplement for a long period and are in need of long-term housing. In order to qualify, you have to have received some rent supplement for at least 18 months.
Local authorities draw up contracts with landlords to provide housing for people with a long-term housing need. The landlord agrees to provide housing for a specific amount of time, and this is covered in the contract with the local authority.
Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) – Designated areas where rent increases are capped to prevent inflation from rising uncontrollably.
Rent Supplement – Short-term income support for people in private rented accommodation who cannot afford rent.
Repair & Leasing Scheme
A scheme aimed to bring vacant houses or commercial properties back into use as homes for households who are on the Housing Waiting List. Under the Scheme, the Council (or an AHB) provides an interest-free loan of up to €80,000 to repair vacant properties and bring them up to rental standard.
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) – Regulates the rental sector, registers tenancies, and resolves disputes between tenants and their landlords.
Right to Buy – A range of schemes allowing long-term local authority tenants to purchase their home at a discount.
S
Shared Ownership
A scheme where you part-buy and part-rent your home, paying both mortgage and rent.
Single Level Housing
Bungalows, or a home built on one floor only. Everything (living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms) is on the same level.
Stamp Duty
A tax paid on property transactions, typically 1-2% of the purchase price.
Social Housing
State-subsidised housing provided to individuals and families unable to afford market rents.
T
Tenant in Situ
A scheme where local authorities buy rental homes where a tenant is at risk of eviction, keeping them housed.
Tenant Purchase Scheme – Allows certain social housing tenants to buy their council-owned homes at a discounted rate. More HERE.
Turnkey Property
A fully finished home that is ready to move into with no additional work needed.
U
Uisce Éireann
Ireland’s national water utility responsible for public water services and infrastructure.
Unfinished Housing Development
A housing project that has been stalled or left incomplete, often due to financial or planning issues.
V
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
A government grant that provides funding to bring derelict or vacant homes back into use. Schemes include the Buy & Renew Scheme (BRS), Repair & Leasing Scheme (RLS) and the Long Term Leasing Initiative (LTLI)
W
Wicklow County Development Plan
An example of a county-specific strategy guiding land use and housing for Wicklow; every county has a similar development plan.
Windfall Sites
Sites that become available for development unexpectedly, often through changes in zoning or land use.
X
No widely used Irish housing terms begin with ‘X’. We will update this section as applicable.
Y
No widely used Irish housing terms begin with ‘Y’. We will update this section as applicable.
Z
Zoning
The classification of land use in local authority development plans, determining what type of buildings can be constructed where.
