Simon Harris has called a portion of Sinn Féin’s new housing proposal a “Frankenstein-style arrangement,” reports Breaking News.
A Home Of Your Own, a five-year proposal by Sinn Féin to build 300,000 homes at an estimated cost of €39 billion, was presented.
The party added that as part of its proposal, it will construct inexpensive homes while keeping control of the property on which the house is situated.
This implies that a buyer of an inexpensive home would own their house but not the land it is constructed on.
“I think there’s a reason why they call the document Home Of Your Own rather than home you own, because the kind of Frankenstein-style arrangement here, in terms of what exactly is the model. So are we talking about a situation now where you can own a home, but you won’t own the land on which the home is built?” Mr Harris said, reports Breaking News.
“We’re going to have a house now that you think you own, you won’t own the land on which it’s built, and then when you go to sell the house, do you kind of need Eoin O Broin’s permission? Who can I sell it to? How much can I sell it for? When can I sell it? This is a long way from the home ownership model that is ingrained in people in this country. Four and a half years into the Dáil term, with a general election due by next March, the main opposition party have decided to publish a housing policy. I welcome that, but there are a lot more questions than there are answers,” he added, reports Breaking News.
The Taoiseach has expressed disapproval of the idea.
Sinn Féin noted that the proposal calls for phasing out current shared equity and subsidy programs, cutting back on rent subsidies, and building affordable homes priced between €250,000 and €300,000.
It also promised to implement a first-time home buyer stamp duty exemption, which will free homeowners from paying stamp duty on properties valued at €450,000 or less.
Darragh O’Brien, Minister of Housing, stated that there was “very little to like” about the proposal.
“I’ll be very honest with you, I’m quite underwhelmed by the plan that’s been published,” he said on Monday, reports Breaking News.
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