Guidance for tenants in receipt of notice of termination
Date: 05-04-2023
Mayo County Council is aware that households in our area may have received a notice of termination from their landlord and may be unsure about what to do.
Anybody who has received a notice of termination and who has no alternative accommodation can contact their local authority.
Mayo County Council’s first response will be to support households to try to prevent homelessness.
Where a person or household is eligible for social housing:
Mayo County Council will assess the availability of social housing properties, provide advice on applying for Choice Based Lettings (where available), or advise the person or household on the level of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) they may be eligible to receive.
In some cases, Mayo County Council will assess if the property in which the tenant currently resides is suitable for acquisition if it is being offered for sale and the owner is interested in selling to the local authority. In prioritising properties for acquisition, consideration will be given to aspects such as cost and value, condition of the property, size and suitability for tenants. If there are social housing units available via the local authority or an Approved Housing Body, allocation to these will also be considered.
Where a person or household is not eligible for social housing:
Mayo County Council can assess and refer households for the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ scheme managed by the Housing Agency and provide advice or direct to appropriate services.
The Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ scheme is available for tenants who are not eligible for social housing and are at risk of homelessness. Local authorities are a first point of contact for this scheme but it is managed by the Housing Agency. Under the scheme the Housing Agency can purchase a property and rent it to the tenant. Local authorities will undertake an initial assessment of the tenant’s circumstances and refer details to the Housing Agency for consideration, where the tenant is at risk of homelessness and the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ scheme applies.
Where a tenant wishes to purchase their home, local authorities can advise and support on the Local Authority Home Loan scheme. We are aware that the Government is examining implementing a ‘right of first refusal’ for tenants to purchase their homes, as well as expanding the First Home shared equity scheme. Mayo County Council will be able to provide more information on these when available.
We would like to assure households that emergency accommodation will be a last resort only, where no other appropriate alternative can be identified. Households in emergency accommodation will be supported to access more permanent accommodation.
Mayo County Council will continue to deal with notice of termination queries and cases as quickly as possible, while taking account of circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Tenants may also wish to contact the Residential Tenancies Board, Threshold or other tenant support services for support and advice on tenant rights.
Mayo County Council’s designated contact(s) for Notice of Termination queries are as follows,
Swinford Central Housing Office
College House
Station Road
Swinford
Co. Mayo
F12 V126
094 9064510
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Unit
College House
Station Road
Swinford
Co. Mayo
F12 V126
HAP@mayococo.ie
094 9064510
HAP Placefinder
Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) Unit
College House
Station Road
Swinford
F12 V126
RAS@mayococo.ie
094 9064510
Ballina Housing Office
Arran Place
Ballina
F26 E5D7
094 9064400
Castlebar Housing Office
Áras an Chontae
The Mall
Castlebar
F23 WF90
castlebarao@mayococo.ie
094 9064000
Claremorris Housing Office
Kilcolman Road
Claremorris
F12 P383
claremorrisao@mayococo.ie
094 9064800
Swinford Housing Office
College House
Station Road
Swinford
Co. Mayo
F12 V126
swinfordao@mayococo.ie
094 9064500
Ballinrobe Housing Office
Kilmaine Road
Balinrobe
Co. Mayo
F31 RR96
Ballinrobeao@mayococo.ie
094 9064700
Belmullet Housing Office
Church Road
Belmullet
Co. Mayo
F26 W5H0
belmullet@mayococo.ie
094 9064900
Westport Housing Office
Altamount Street
Westport
Co. Mayo
F28 W248
westmayomd@mayococo.ie
094 9064600