‘Rightsizing Scheme’ open to older residents and tenants

Older Meath residents who would like to downsize their house to smaller more easily maintained home, are encouraged to avail of Meath County Council's 'Rightsizing Scheme.'

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said the scheme, which allows council tenants give back their rented house or homeowners to sell their house to the council, is ideal for people who are getting older, find it difficult and costly to maintain their homes and maybe don't want stairs.

A council tenant can give back their bigger house and will be allocated a smaller council house and can avail of financial assistance up to a maximum of €500 for costs associated with a rightsizing move (de-cluttering, belongings transfer/removal).

Homeowners can sell their house to the council and receive council housing if they contribute a quarter of the proceeds of the sale to the council.

“A lot of people would like to downsize. Some older houses don't hold he heat properly, their upkeep may be too much as people get older and they may want a single storey home, Cllr Fitzsimons point out.

“The council's Rightsizing scheme is a great opportunity for people like this and I would urge anyone who thinks they would like to move to a smaller home to contact the council.

“I know of one or to people who have availed of the scheme and they are very happy,” he said.

At last week's meeting of Navan Municipal Council, Cllr Fitzsimons had asked for an update on the proposed ‘rightsizing policy’ to be introduced by the council. He was told the Council does not currently have a specific policy document but applications are processed on a case by case basis. The council's Healthy Age Friendly Home (HAFH) co-ordinators, can engage with any person over 65 who wishes to discuss their rightsizing options.

The programme aims to support older people to live in a home more suited to their needs with dignity and independence, for as long as possible. It is about providing a range of alternatives for older people who may otherwise transition into long term residential care prematurely.

The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinators will case manage a support package for each person referred, linking the supports from the variety of public, voluntary, private and community agencies in the area. Cllr Fitzsimons was told that tenants occupying properties in excess of their current housing need would be approached in order to rightsize to a more suitable property within the tenant’s local community or preferred area of choice. There is a Financial Contribution Scheme for private owners who find their existing dwellings too large for their needs and who wish to be considered for housing by the housing authority, as tenants in older person’s accommodation.

The property must be located in Meath County Council’s administrative area and the council cannot purchase any house with a value in excess of the price limit set out by the Department.

The council can only consider the purchase of properties at a discount from homeowners who are eligible for older person’s accommodation and successful applicants will be placed on the Financial Contributions List until a suitable vacancy arises. Home owners who are housed must pay a housing rent in line with the Differential Rent Scheme The applicant also has the option of a private sale of the property, with the applicant paying the financial contribution to the Housing Authority of one quarter of the net proceeds of the sale.