This is a comprehensive guide to buying a house in Ireland .

Special thanks to Tyrrell Solicitors for this detailed guide

Intro :
Conveyancing is that area of law that deals with the transfer and acquisition of the ownership of land.

1. CHOOSE A PROPERTY

This may seem obvious but the first thing that must be done is to actually choose the property that you wish to buy. There are few questions that you should ask about the property such as 'Is it for sale?' If it is not for sale there is no point in trying to buy it. Secondly is it within your price range? We would all like to live in a three- story house with eight bedrooms but we have to be realistic and know what we can afford or what our bank manager/lending institution will be willing to lend us.

Ireland's Household Charge Explained.

The Household Charge is an annual charge introduced by the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 which is payable by owners of residential property. It is a matter for owners of residential properties to register and pay the Household Charge on or after the 1st of January 2012.The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland commits the Government to the introduction of a property tax for 2012. We are one of the last countries in Europe that does not fund local services through local property-based charges.

Mortgage Relief

Mortgage interest relief is a tax relief based on the amount of mortgage interest that you pay in a given tax year for your principal private residence (your home).

Mortgage interest relief is administered via Tax Relief at Source (TRS). This means that your mortgage lender gives you the benefit of tax relief on the amount of mortgage interest paid. They do this by reducing your mortgage repayment by the amount of tax relief you are entitled to in each tax year. Your mortgage lender then claims this tax relief from the Revenue Commissioners. Any amendments in this tax relief - for example, if there is a change in interest rates - are made automatically by your lender on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners.

The National Asset Management Agency, NAMA .

The National Asset Management Agency, NAMA was established in 2009 as one of a number of initiatives taken by the Government to address the serious crisis in Irish banking which had become increasingly evident over the course of 2008 and early 2009.The Irish banking system had engaged in excessive lending to the property sector and, with the significant decline in the Irish property market from 2007 onwards, loan impairments had begun to rise substantially. This caused a rapid depletion in bank regulatory capital and required appropriate remedial action to remove uncertainty and to repair the balance sheets of a number of financial institutions of systemic importance to the Irish economy.

 The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) 

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is an initiative by the Government to cater for the accommodation needs of certain persons in receipt of rent supplement, normally for more than 18 months and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. RAS is a collaborative project between the Department, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Health Service Executive Community Welfare Service.

The Household Charge, Liability and Late Payment Fee

How much is the charge?

The Household Charge is €100 per residential property

How can I pay the Household Charge?

Property Services Regulatory Authority Ireland - PSRA

What is the Property Services Regulatory Authority?

The Property Services Regulatory Authority's (PSRA) mission is to control and supervise the Property Services Providers (PSPs) ie Auctioneers, Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Management Agents. We work to protect the interests of the public by ensuring that high standards are maintained in the delivery of property services.

What are the exemptions from liability to pay the household charge ?

The exemptions are as follows:

Residential properties that are part of the trading stock of a business and have not been sold or been the source of any income since construction,

What is The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland , SCSI ?

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland is the independent professional body for Chartered Surveyors working and practising in Ireland. Working in partnership with RICS, the pre-eminent Chartered professional body for the construction, land and property sectors around the world, the Society and RICS act in the public interest: setting and maintaining the highest standards of competence and integrity among the profession; and providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues for business, society and governments worldwide.

Are estate agents regulated in Ireland ?

Estate agents play an important role in property sale and purchase transactions. Whilst private sales are sometimes negotiated, using an estate agent is the most common method of buying or selling a property. Estate agents have valuable experience in the property industry and can identify properties that are suitable for particular individuals or businesses.

BER what is it?

Building Energy Rating, a BER is an indication of the energy performance of a home. It covers energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation and lighting calculated on the basis of standard occupancy. A BER is similar to the energy label for a household electrical appliance like your fridge. The label has a scale of A-G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and will tend to have the lowest energy bills.

Planning Permission

If you are going to build a house in Ireland, you will need planning permission. If you are going to build an extension or make other changes to your existing house, you may need planning permission. Some small extensions and conservatories do not need planning permission but you should make sure of this before you start building. Your local authority will be able to advise you about this and tell you how to apply as well as giving you general advice about your application. Your local authority will also be able to tell you whether your proposals are likely to comply with the development plan for your area.

Tenants’ rights and obligations

If you pay rent to a landlord for the use of accommodation or property you are a tenant. Your legal rights and responsibilities derive from landlord/tenant law as well as from any lease or tenancy agreement between you and your landlord.

The main legislation governing these rights and obligations is set down in the Landlord and Tenant Acts 1967 to 1994 and the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 . The following is a general overview of your rights, duties and obligations as a tenant; however, if you are living with your landlord you are not covered by landlord/tenant legislation.

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV)

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) was founded in 1971. It was established to provide an organization for Auctioneers and Valuers to protect, advance and promote the professional standards of Auctioneers and Valuers.

 The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the only free, confidential, independent and non-judgmental service for people in debt, or in danger of getting into debt, in Ireland. Our Helpline (0761 07 2000) operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm. You can also send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.