Rental Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Questions (408)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

408. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the extension of the €14,000 rent-a-room tax relief to social housing tenants; how it will interact with their differential rent both in terms of how the income of the licensee will be treated and how the additional income to the social housing tenant will be treated for the purposes of determining their differential rent; and the timeline for bringing the formalised scheme to Cabinet. [26137/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government recently agreed to extend the Rent-a-Room Relief scheme disregard to social welfare recipients, extend the disregard into medical card criteria, and permit local authority tenancies access the scheme.  

The specific details of the scheme for social housing tenancies are currently being considered by my Department. This includes addressing the range of practical, operational, and legal matters arising, such as managing social housing waiting lists, amending tenancy agreements, reviewing and amending rent schemes, and local authority approval arrangements

The commitment to extend the Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme has been included as a supplementary action in Housing for All, as reported in the Q1 Housing for All Report, with proposals to be be brought forward in Q3 this year.