Starter Home Purchase Scheme Frequently Asked Questions

• Do not upload unnecessary information such bank statements from previous years, old proof of address (unless requested to do so), old payslips as this delays the review of applications.
• Do not apply more then once to an individual scheme.Only one application per household will be accepted so please select the property most suitable to your requirements and budget.
• Identification 
  Ensure this is in date and signed
  Your IRP residence card is not proof of identification
• Proof of Right to Reside
  All household members must have the righ to reside in Ireland 
  This must be in date. This may be extended to include work permits on request.
• Proof Address
  Dated within the last 6 months
  Both applicants are required to provide this proof
  Acceptable documents include: Utility Bill excluding mobile phone bills, Waste Collection Invoice, Financial Institution Statement, Insurance/ Assurance documentation
• Proof of Income
  3 months of payslips 
  Employment Detail Summary for the previous year 
  Up to date signed & stamped Salary Certificate
• Joint Applicants & Household members 
  Please include everyone who intends to reside in the property
  Cohabiting partners, Civil Partners and Spouse's should be included as Joint Applicants
• Previous Home Ownership 
  If you have ever owned / built a property and qualify for the scheme under the exceptions, please indicate this in your application when answering the relevant questions
• Bank Statements 
  A full 3 months up to date statements for all current/Revolut accounts and savings accounts for both the main and joint applicants are required
• Gifted amounts 
  If you intend to use a gifted sum towards the property you are required to provide a signed gift letter and proof of funds
• Mortgage Approval 
  Your mortgage should be in date and proof provided in the form of an Approval in Principle letter for the maximum amount available to you.
• Proof of Residency in County Meath
  Proof of 5 years consecutive residency in the administrative area of Meath County Council; Utility bills, Bank statements, P21 statements or government issued documents. Please provide one document dated for each of the 5 years where your address is evident.
• If applying under the Fresh Start Principle or the exception for Unsuitable Accommodation for the household needs, see the requirements below 

Meath County Council will make funding available to eligible applicants to assist in the purchase of specific advertised  properties. The aim of the scheme is to bridge the gap between a purchasers own funding and the market value of the property. This funding will take the form of an equity share (a share of ownership).
*Equity shares are calculated on an individual basis

Only one application per household will be considered so applicants are advised to consider what house type suits their needs and is within their budget. 
Applicants who apply seperately under both parties names or apply for more then one house type will be contacted to select one application to proceed with. 

No applicants from any County are accepted. 

Yes, provided you and the household members have the right to reside in the country.

Yes, Help to Buy can be used in conjunction with the Starter Home Purchase Scheme. It is not madatory to use the Help to Buy scheme. 
Please Note: In some instances you may not be eligible for Help to Buy. 
It is advisible to check the eligibility criteria Help to Buy Information

No, you cannot use the Starter Home Purchase Scheme and the First Homes Scheme together, you should select the one most suited to your needs. 

• To be eligible applicants must be a First Time Buyer, qualify under the Fresh Start Principle or own a property which due to its size is not suited to your household needs.
• Each person must have a right to reside in the country.
• The home must be your normal place of residence
• You must require a minimum of 5% equity and each scheme will have maximum income limits

Fresh Start Principle 
Allows people who are divorced or separated, or have been through insolvency or bankruptcy, and who are divested of any interest in their previous home, to be eligible to apply for affordable housing schemes

Required Documents
Court Decree / Solicitors letter confirming the applicant is divorced/separated or otherwise and have left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property. Details of maintenance arrangement where applicable.

Where the applicant has been divested of the property through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, proof of the applicant's status on the bankruptcy register is required. Proof that any property you previously owned or built has been sold, or given as part of a personal insolvency, bankruptcy agreement or other legal insolvency process. A separate assessment of creditworthiness will be conducted.

Accommodation unsuitable for household needs 
Applicant(s) that previously owned, was beneficially entitled to, or have an interest in a dwelling in the state and that this dwelling, because of its size, is not suited to the current accommodation needs of the applicant’s household i.e., house overcrowded, or the applicant may wish to rightsize, may be eligible to apply.

Required Documents
Up to date valuation and description of your property 
In order to confirm your purchase power you may be asked to provide your current mortgage statement 

The minimum and maximum equity share available is detailed in the advertisement for each individual scheme. 
A minimum of 5% and a maximum of 40% may be provided depending on the particular scheme and available government funding. 
Equity shares are calculated individually based on mortgage, savings and income.

Each Starter Home Purchase Scheme will have specific properties available in named developments. All new schemes will be advertised a minimum of 2 weeks in advance on the Meath County Council website, social media platforms and in The Meath Chronicle. 

All household members who intend to reside in the property should be included in your application. 
Where a person is married, in a civil partnership or in a committed relationship with a partner they should make an application together.
Please include your Spouse, Civil Partner as a Joint Applicant not as a household member. 
 

This is an online application process. 
The link to access the application portal will be published on the Starter Home Purchase Scheme webpage on the specified date and time as per the advertisement for the scheme.  

Documents required may include, but are not limited to; 

• Proof of identification, in date and signed where appropriate
• Proof of address, dated within 6 months
• Proof of PPSN
• Proof of Income – employed, self-employed or social welfare payments,
• Proof of your in date Right to Reside, this may be extended to include work permits upon request
• A copy of your in date Mortgage Approval in Principle Letter
• A copy of your Help to Buy approved amount (not mandatory)
• 3 months to date statements for all bank accounts held by the applicant and joint applicant for example Revolut statements, Current Accounts and Savings accounts
• Supporting documentation for your qualification under the Fresh Start Principle 
  Court decree/solicitor letter confirming divorce/separation
  Confirmation that you have divested your interest in any property 
  Confirmation of your status on the bankruptcy register where applicable
• Supporting documentation for your qualification under the Unsuitable Accommodation exception 
  Up to date valuation to include a description of the property 
  In order to confirm your 'purchase power' you may be asked to provide your current mortgage statement 
• Proof of your residency in the administrative area of Meath County Council for 5 consecutive years, if you are applying under the Scheme of Priority 30% rule, 1 document dated for each year. Utility Bill, Government issued document, Bank Statement where your address is evident.

Each Scheme will have different income limits depending on the cost and location of the homes. In general, the income limit for a dwelling is 85.5% of market value divided by 4. 
There is an exception to this rule; an applicant may be above the income threshold however due to their individual circumstances the applicant is unable to secure a mortgage that is equal to approximately four times the household income. 

Applicants should be mortgage approved when they apply. If you have not applied for a mortgage, you should do so now. 
 

The Pillar Banks are Bank of Ireland, AIB, PTSB, Haven, EBS or  Local Authority Home Loan.

OR the two exceptions to this; Avant Money & Community Credit Unions & Enfield Credit Union
(locations West Cabra and Blanchardstown).
Applicants should submit their maximum available mortgage for consideration under the scheme. 

Meath County Council are open to reviewing mortgages from alternative providers. The provider should be informed that the property is a Starter Home Purchase Scheme property and be made aware that they will need to sign a Priority Agreement with Meath County Council in advance of any purchase.

The deposit you need to provide is 10% of the affordable purchase price. 
For example: 
Market Value €400,000 Equity Share €50,000 Purchase Price €350,000 
= 10% Deposit of €35,000
Deposits can be made up with personal savings, gifted amounts and Help to Buy. 

Yes, your benefactor should complete a gift letter and provide proof that they have the funds available to provide you with the gift.

• Solicitors’ fees, it is in your interest to have a solicitor in mind at application stage.
• Stamp Duty should be taken into consideration when purchasing a property. This calculated on the full Market Value of the house and is payable by the applicant.
• Some properties may also have an annual property management fee, details of which will be available via the developer.

Meath County Council apply their approved Scheme of Priority to select successful applicants from the list of valid, eligible applicants. 
Please see the Starter Home Purchase Support section for access to the Scheme of Priority document. 

All successful applicants will be contacted and sent a Formal Offer Letter and Acceptance Form detailing the process and finances involved.

When all the properties advertised have been allocated to successful applicants, those who are eligible will be placed on a reserve list. 

Yes, all purchasers will need to sign an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement with their solicitor. This document is included in the Legal Pack that will be sent to your solicitor should you be successful.

Equity shares can be repaid at any time in amounts of a minimum of €10,000 at a time. 
Please refer to our Redemption FAQ's for more information on this process. 

Properties can be sold with the consent of Meath County Council. In this case you would be required to redeem or pay back the equity share. 
Please refer to our Redemption FAQ's for more information on this process. 

The Local Authority Equity is provided to homebuyers who intend to make the property their Principle Private Residence.