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Housing

What do we do?

The function of the Housing Unit is to provide various housing supports for those who cannot provide them from their own
resources. Assistance is given for persons looking to rent accommodation, buy/build accommodation or improve their current
accommodation. We also provide various supports for our tenants, our Council estates and members of the Travelling Community.

Where to find us?
Housing Unit, 1st Floor,
Áras an Chontae,
Prospect Hill,
Galway.

How to contact us?

Alternatively you can ring the main housing number and choose the service that you wish to make contact with:

Dial 091 509300 and

Press 1 for: Housing Applications
Press 2 for: Housing Loans & Grants
Press 3 for: Housing Rents
Press 4 for: Housing Maintenance
Press 5 for: Affordable Housing
Press 6 for: Rental Accommodation Scheme
Press 7 for: Housing Construction

Options for Renting
Local Authority Housing
If you are in need of housing and unable to provide it from your own resources, you may be eligible to apply for local authority housing. This is mainly scheme housing but can be rural if you own or have access to a site.

Voluntary Housing
We work with Voluntary Housing Bodies to provide accommodation for renting to certain categories of persons i.e. older persons, persons in need of supported accommodation, etc. If you would like to live in a voluntary house you must first be approved for housing by the Council.

To get more information on Local Authority & Voluntary Housing contact:

Tel: 091 509265 / 509269 / 509268
E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

affordable housing

Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)
If you are in receipt of rent supplement for more than 12 months and have a long term housing need you may be eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). The Council enters into a contract with the landlord to let accommodation to eligible persons.

To enquire if you qualify for RAS please contact:
Tel: 091 509293 / 509294 / 509011
E mail: ras@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

Standards for Private Rented Accommodation
Under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, landlords are required by law to ensure that their property
complies with certain minimum standards. If the property does not comply with these standards, the landlord may be prosecuted,
following inspection of the property by the Council.

To get more information on Standards for Private Rented Accommodation please contact:

Tel: 091 509293 / 509294 / 509011
E mail: ras@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

Registration of Private Rented Accommodation
Landlords must register tenancies falling within the scope of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 with the Private Residential
Tenancies Board (PRTB) - there are a small number of exceptions to the requirement to register. The PRTB also provide a dispute resolution service and general information on landlord / tenant legal requirements.

To get more information on registering your property contact:
Private Residential Tenancies Board,
Canal House,
Canal Road,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
Tel: 01 8882960 (information on registration)
      01 8882834 (information on disputes)
E mail: prtb@environ.ie
Web: www.prtb.ie

Options for Purchasing

 Tenant Purchase Scheme
If you have been a tenant in a Council house for at least 1 year, you may apply to purchase the property from the Council. The purchase price will be based on the market value of the property in its existing state of repair less a discount based on the number of years you have been a tenant in the house. You may obtain a mortgage either privately or from the Council to purchase the house.

To find out more about the Tenant Purchase Scheme contact:
Tel: 091 509264
E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

Affordable Housing
An Affordable House is a house/apartment that you buy at a discount to the market price. The price depends on the area you want to live in and the size and type of affordable house available. If you sell it within 20 years, you will have to pay back a percentage of the sale price to the Council.

To find out more about Affordable Housing:

Tel: 091 509266 / 509026
E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

Shared Ownership Scheme
This is where ownership of the house is initially shared between you and the Council. The minimum share you must buy is 40% of the house and you then rent the remainder from the Council. You must purchase the Council’s share outright within a 25-year period.

To find out more about Shared Ownership contact:

Tel: 091 509270 / 509271
E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

 Local Authority Loan
If you are unable to get a loan from a commercial lending agency, you may apply for a local authority loan to build or purchase a house. The amount of the loan approved is subject to income limits and other circumstances.

To find out more about Local Authority Loans contact:
Tel: 091 509270 / 509271
E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

Options for Home Improvements

Home Improvement Loan
A Home Improvement Loan is for essential improvements to a person’s house where the works carried out will make a significant
improvement to the living conditions of the house.

Find out more about Home Improvement Loans:

Tel: 091 509270 / 509271
E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/


Housing Aid for Older People Grant
This grant is available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out.

To find out more about this Grant contact:
Tel: 091 509267E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/

Housing Adaptation Grant
This grant provides for structural adaptations to a house to make it more suitable for a person with a disability i.e. provision of access ramps, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access, extension, etc.

Mobility Aids Grant
This grant is available to address mobility problems and covers works such as grab-rails, access ramps, level access showers,
stair-lifts and other minor works, deemed necessary to facilitate the mobility needs of a member of a household.

To get more information on the Housing Adaptation and
Mobility Aids Grants contact:
Tel: 091 509263E mail: housing@galwaycoco.ie
Web: www.galway.ie/en/Services/Housing/