Rental Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023

Monday, 11 September 2023

Questions (936, 937, 938, 939)

Patrick Costello

Question:

936. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the rent-a-room scheme has been extended to include social houses to avail of the €14,000 tax free benefit, if he will clarify the rules governing this extension, specifically relating to the requirement to disclose the tenant and seek pre-approval for the potential tenant and the minimum standards put in place for this extension and the enforcement mechanism for such standards. [38794/23]

Patrick Costello

Question:

937. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the rent-a-room scheme pre-approval functions are to be carried out and administered by county councils, the extent to which councils are getting involved in the selection of tenants and overseeing the process. [38795/23]

Patrick Costello

Question:

938. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the rent-a-room scheme what are the minimum standards being introduced to ensure uptake of the scheme is done by homeowners with appropriate and suitable properties, similar to minimum standards associated with the rental of properties not included in the scheme. [38796/23]

Patrick Costello

Question:

939. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the rent-a-room scheme, if the Government is nominating a dispute resolution mechanism for issues that might arise in the context of a tenancy relationship established through availing of the scheme; if this function is being extended to the Residential Tenancies Board; and the extra resources that the RTB will be offered by the Government to gain capacity to address such issues adequately. [38798/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 936 to 939, inclusive, together.

The Government has 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 commitment to extend the Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme was included as a supplementary action in Housing for All, as reported in the Q1 2023 Housing for All Report available on my Department's website here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/#2023

An initial scoping exercise to determine how the scheme may apply to social housing tenancies has been completed. My Department has been giving detailed consideration to the specific details necessary to provide for the initiative including addressing the range of practical, operational, and legal matters arising and has been consulting with local authorities in that context.

I expect proposals to be brought to me shortly.

Question No. 937 answered with Question No. 936.

Question No. 938 answered with Question No. 936.