Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
289. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any level of discretion applied to the €53,000 household net annual income limit for the cost rental tenant in-situ-scheme, such as for a one-off bonus; if the reckonable income is based solely on 2022 or over a longer period; if overtime is not included in reckonable income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19959/23]
View answerI recently introduced the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme, as an interim measure developed on an administrative basis, which is intended to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This temporary scheme is available where a tenant faces the valid termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:
• does not intend to purchase the property from the landlord,
• does not own other residential property,
• is assessed by the Local Authority to be at risk of homelessness,
• is not in receipt of social housing supports (i.e. the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Residential Accommodation Scheme (RAS)), and
• has an annual net household income of no more than €53,000.
Rents are set at the current rate paid by the tenant to the previous landlord. It is the longer-term intention, however, to transition these tenancies and homes to the standard framework for Cost Rental, where rents are set at a level to meet the costs of acquiring, managing, and maintaining the home. It is for this reason that the net household income limit of €53,000 (gross income less income tax, PRSI, USC and superannuation contributions) aligns with the standard income limit for Cost Rental.
In practical terms, bonuses and overtime are included in the assessment of gross income from employment. PAYE employees should be prepared to furnish their Revenue statement of liabilities for the previous tax year (in this case 2022) plus their two most recent payslips, while self-employed persons should be prepared to provide accounts for at least the previous year, along with an up-to-date tax balancing statement and preliminary tax receipt.
