Schemes
Local Authority Home Loan: a mortgage from your council
The Local Authority Home Loan is a State-backed mortgage offered through your council. It is for first-time buyers and Fresh Start applicants with a steady income who could not get a large enough mortgage from two banks.
Who can apply
- First-time buyers, and Fresh Start applicants who no longer own a home after a separation or insolvency.
- Aged 18 or over. The loan must be repaid by the time the oldest applicant turns 70.
- Gross income up to €80,000 for one applicant or €85,000 for a joint application, from 1 April 2026.
- Two years of continuous employment for a single applicant. In a joint application, the main earner needs two years and the second earner one year.
- Written evidence that two regulated lenders offered too little or declined, from the last 12 months.
How much you can borrow
The loan covers up to 90% of the price or the valuation, whichever is lower. The rest is your deposit: at least 3% from your own savings, and the balance from another source such as a gift or Help to Buy.
| Area | Maximum property value | Maximum loan |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow | €415,000 | €373,500 |
| Cork, Galway City, Meath | €375,000 | €337,500 |
| Clare, Galway County, Kilkenny, Limerick, Louth, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford | €345,000 | €310,500 |
| All other counties | €310,000 | €279,000 |
The interest rate
At the time of writing (September 2026) the rate is fixed for the whole term: 4.00% for terms up to 25 years and 4.05% for 26 to 30 years. Your repayment never changes, which makes budgeting simple, but you will not benefit if market rates fall.
How to apply
- Collect the two letters from regulated lenders that show an insufficient offer or a refusal.
- Apply online at localauthorityhomeloan.ie, for the council area where the home is.
- Send your payslips, bank statements, Employment Detail Summary and ID. The Housing Agency assesses the application and the council's credit committee decides.
- With approval in place, you have a set time to find a home and draw down, as with a bank.
My journey records both bank replies at step 7, so they are ready when you apply.
Worth knowing
The loan can be combined with Help to Buy on a new home and with some affordable purchase schemes. It cannot be combined with the First Home Scheme, which only works with participating banks.
