Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
762. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the supports in place to assist older renters who, because of age, are unable to get approved for a mortgage and where the household income is over the limits set under the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28108/23]
View answer763. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in circumstances where adult children are living in a rental accommodation with their parents for the time being, if any income earned by these children can be disregarded when calculating the household income under the cost rental tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28112/23]
View answer764. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the payments, if any, that can be disregarded when calculating the net annual income of a household in relation to the cost rental tenant in situ scheme; if carer’s allowance, for example, can be disregarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28113/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 762 to 764, inclusive, together.
The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced, initially on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:
• is not able to or intending 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 or the Residential Accommodation Scheme), and
• has an annual net household income of no more than €53,000.
Local Authority Housing Officers have responsibility for assessing the risk of homelessness to tenants who have received a valid notification of termination due to an intended sale of a property, and so it is the Local Authority that tenants should first approach.
If the Local Authority is satisfied that the applicant tenant household is eligible for CRTiS they will pass the details of the tenant and the property to The Housing Agency for consideration for potential acquisition. The Housing Agency will then engage with the tenant and the landlord with a view to acquiring the property.
It is the longer-term intention 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.
If adult children are living in rental accommodation with parents, income earned by these adults will count towards overall household income with regard to eligibility for the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ Scheme. With regard to the carers allowance, this is disregarded by The Housing Agency when assessing household income.
If household incomes are above the limit to be eligible for the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ Scheme, tenants can contact their local authority who will be in a position to advise them of other measures which may be appropriate for their specific situation.
