Established in 2019 by the government, Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) plays a key role in tackling Ireland’s housing supply challenges by providing residential development finance to builders and developers.
Operating commercially, HBFI complements other existing funding sources such as banks and alternative lenders, offering tailored financial solutions to support viable housing projects nationwide.
Since its inception, HBFI has evolved from offering a single finance product to a suite of five distinct offerings, each designed to address specific market needs. These include:
- Small Development Product;
- Housing and Apartment Development Product;
- Social/Affordable Housing Product;
- Green Funding Product;
- Accelerate Product (for developers delivering 100+ units annually).
This diverse product range enables HBFI to support developments of all scales – from large social and affordable schemes to smaller, regionally focused projects.
Development in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow.
Among its suite of five distinct finance products, the Social/Affordable Housing Product stands out as a key enabler of Ireland’s Housing for All strategy. This product is specifically designed to support developments that deliver homes under social, affordable purchase, and cost rental schemes – ensuring that housing is accessible to a broader segment of the population.
Spotlight on the Social/Affordable Housing Product
HBFI’s Social/Affordable Housing Product is tailored to meet the needs of developers working in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), local authorities, and the Land Development Agency (LDA). It supports projects that contribute directly to the delivery of homes for those most in need, including:
- Social housing units delivered to allow local authorities provide long term rental accommodation;
- Affordable purchase homes sold under schemes such as the Affordable Housing Scheme;
- Cost rental homes offering long-term rental options at below-market rates.
Key features of the product include:
- Loan Size from €5 million (to include land purchase (up to 60%) and development funding);
- Gearing of up to 85% (includes site purchase and development funding);
- Margin of between 4.5% and 6.5% (over 3-month Euribor);
- Entry fee of up to 1% and no exit fee;
- Support for mixed-tenure developments, enabling a blend of social, affordable, and private housing.
- Ideally, the site should have planning permission or be in the process of achieving planning permission;
- Nationwide availability, with HBFI’s regionally based Business Development Team providing hands-on support throughout the process.
Developments must be contracted for sale pre-construction to a local authority, an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or the LDA or affordable units for sale to the open market with an agreed structure in place with a Local Authority, an AHB or the LDA.
Each application is assessed individually, ensuring that funding solutions are responsive to the unique characteristics of each project and its stakeholders.
Delivering impact nationwide
As of June 2025, HBFI had approved more than €3bn in funding, facilitating the construction of 15,186 new homes across 206 developments in 25 counties.
Development in Cootehill, Co Cavan.
A total of 39% of this funding has supported social and affordable housing schemes with an additional 5% supporting Part IV, reflecting HBFI’s commitment to inclusive housing delivery.
A partner for builders and developers
For engineers, developers, and advisors involved in socially focused residential projects, HBFI offers more than just finance, it provides a strategic partnership.
Whether you are working with an AHB on a cost rental scheme or delivering affordable homes in collaboration with a local authority, HBFI’s Social/Affordable Housing Product is designed to support your vision and help bring homes to communities across Ireland.
As Ireland continues to pursue its Housing for All targets, HBFI remains committed to working with builders, developers, and advisers to increase housing supply and improve access to finance.
To learn more about HBFI and how we can support your next project, visit www.hbfi.ie, email us at info@hbfi.ie, or call 01 2384600.