About
Our Story
Ava Housing offers an alternative to older homeowners where they can adapt their homes to suit their future needs while also creating a rental capacity within their home. This not only provides financial benefits but can also provide a sense of security and community for homeowners.
Over 160,000 older homeowners are living alone in family-sized houses, with many living in mature, well serviced, urban communities.
For many homeowners, while their house is their greatest asset, it may also give rise to physical challenges and significant expense which directly impact on their daily quality of life.
Michelle Moore founded the organisation in 2016 as a not-for-profit enterprise which offers an alternative solution to this problem that is focused on the needs of the homeowner. The Ava Housing model examines how we can work together with homeowners to make their existing homes work better for them.
Michelle teamed up with Architects Dermot Bannon and Ciarán Ferrie to come up with a design solution that is applicable to the widest range of homes possible in a way that is sympathetic to existing homes and neighbourhoods and facilitates older people staying in their homes.
The Ava Housing design solution helps homeowners to reconfigure their family sized homes to create a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor which will be suitable for their changing needs. The design also includes the creation of a rental unit for one person upstairs and incorporates energy upgrades. As a result Homeowners qualify for Rent-a-Room tax relief, valued up to €14,000p.a. This not only provides extra income, but also peace of mind. The homeowner retains 100% ownership of their home at all times.
Ava Housing provides an ongoing service of support to the homeowner through the retrofit of their home, helps them to find a renter (an essential worker) and ensures that it is the homeowners decision who they rent to.
We also manage the rental on behalf of the homeowner. We provide expertise, guidance and experience so the homeowner is supported at every stage in adapting their home to better suit their changing needs.
Of course, every home is different and every project is different and this is carefully managed by Ava Housing so that the homeowner gets the best adaptations to suit their requirements. This design facilitates homeowners to make their home more manageable and to re-imagine their homes to suit their needs.
Ava Housing has completed pilot houses in Clondalkin and Beaumont and is receiving funding and policy support from the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage to complete an expanded pilot initiative in 2023/24. The expanded phase of this pilot will seek to support homeowners in the greater Beaumont/ Artane area of Dublin to upgrade their homes over the coming months.
Ava Housing CLG is a not-for-profit organisation. We are committed to the Governance Code. This is a voluntary code of practice for good governance of Community, Voluntary and Charitable (CVC) organisations in Ireland. Read more about our governance here.
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Sensible Approach
Supports the home owner.
Avoids unintended consequences.
Optimises existing rules.
Home Sharing
Uses the whole house.
Brings people together.
Boosts retirement income.
Smart Ageing
Recognises that the home is tied up with memories. Designed for evolving needs.
Can revert back to family home.
Awards & Accolades
Ava Housing are grateful for the support and recognition we have received to date. Here are some of the awards and support funding we have won. Thank you all for your continued support.
