Check your eligibility for the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) and First Home Scheme — see the equity discount you could receive on a new home.
The Affordable Purchase Scheme helps first-time buyers (and qualifying second-chance buyers) bridge the gap between the price of a new home and what they can borrow. The local authority takes an equity stake in the property, from 5% up to 40%, which you can buy out later or repay on sale. This calculator works out your eligibility, the equity discount you could receive, and the mortgage you would need.
Check eligibility for the LAAPS scheme and see your discount in under two minutes.
Enter the market price of the new build you want to buy.
Add your gross annual income and the mortgage amount you have been approved for.
Add your deposit savings and any Help-to-Buy refund you are claiming.
Get the equity discount, the price you would pay, and your eligibility result.
Enter the property value, your income, and your savings. We will work out the equity discount you could receive and the mortgage you would need.
Check your eligibility for Irish Local Authority Affordable Purchase Schemes (LAAPS)
Based on Affordable Housing Act 2021 eligibility criteria
Need Help? Contact Us →Three different schemes can help first-time buyers and qualifying second-chance buyers purchase a new home in Ireland.
The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme lets local authorities take an equity stake of 5% to 40% in a new build. You repay the equity on sale, or buy it out at any time at the then-market value of that share.
The First Home Scheme is the shared-equity option for buyers purchasing from private developers. The scheme takes up to 30% equity, or up to 20% when combined with Help to Buy. Unlike the LAAPS equity, which carries no interest or charge, the FHS applies an annual service charge from year 6: 1.75% of the initial equity amount in years 6 to 15, 2.15% in years 16 to 29, and 2.85% from year 30 onward.
The Help to Buy tax refund gives first-time buyers up to EUR 30,000 or 10% of the price as a refund of income tax paid in the last four years. It applies to new homes priced up to EUR 500,000 and runs to 31 December 2029. Stackable with LAAPS or the First Home Scheme.
Most schemes require you to be a first-time buyer (or qualify under the "fresh start" rules), purchasing a new-build home for owner-occupation, with a mortgage from an approved lender. You must contribute a minimum deposit, usually 10%.
LAAPS uses a 4x mortgage stress test against your income, the Central Bank first-time-buyer limit. Your borrowing capacity must fall short of the home price by at least 5% to qualify. The First Home Scheme has its own income limits set per region.
You can repurchase the equity stake at any time at the then-market value of that share. Under LAAPS there is no minimum holding period, no penalty, and no interest or charge on the equity. The First Home Scheme differs: its equity is charge-free for the first 5 years, then attracts an annual service charge from year 6.
Everything you need to know about affordable purchase in Ireland.
The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) helps first-time and qualifying second-chance buyers purchase a new home at a reduced price. The local authority takes an equity stake of up to 40% in the property, which the buyer repays on sale or can buy out at any time. It was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021.
You must be a first-time buyer, or qualify under the "fresh start" rules (e.g. divorced and no longer have an interest in the previous family home). You must be purchasing a new-build home for owner-occupation, must have mortgage approval from an approved lender, and must have a deposit of at least 10%. Your income must fall short of the price by at least 5%.
The local authority can take an equity stake of between 5% and 40% of the purchase price. The exact percentage depends on the gap between what you can borrow (with your deposit) and the price of the home. The aim is to make the property affordable to you while keeping the local authority's exposure proportionate.
LAAPS is run by your local authority and applies to homes built or sold by the council. The First Home Scheme is run by the State and applies to private new builds sold by developers. Both are shared-equity schemes, but the terms differ: LAAPS equity can reach 40% and carries no interest or charge, while FHS equity is up to 30% (up to 20% with Help to Buy) and attracts an annual service charge from year 6.
Not until you sell the home or choose to buy out the equity stake. You can repurchase the equity at any time at the then-market value of that share. There is no interest, no minimum holding period, and no penalty. If you sell, the local authority receives back its share of the sale proceeds.
Yes. The Help to Buy (HTB) tax refund is stackable with the LAAPS or First Home Scheme. HTB gives you back up to EUR 30,000 or 10% of the property price (whichever is lower) of income tax paid in the previous four years, on new homes priced up to EUR 500,000. The scheme runs to 31 December 2029. Note that combining HTB with the First Home Scheme reduces the maximum FHS equity to 20%. Combined with the equity discount, this can substantially close the affordability gap.
LAAPS applications are made directly to the local authority running the scheme, typically opening for fixed application windows when new homes are released. Decisions are usually made within 4 to 8 weeks. Plan ahead — make sure your mortgage approval and savings documentation are in order before you apply.
This calculator uses the published rules of the LAAPS and First Home Scheme, including the 4x income stress test and the 5% affordability gap. Actual eligibility decisions are made by your local authority based on full documentation. Use this tool as a guide before you apply.
Rentalize automates affordable purchase application processing, eligibility checks, equity stake tracking, and post-completion administration for local authorities and the LDA.
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