Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
616. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason local authority tenants are allowed to rent a room in their home, but those in accommodation owned by the approved housing bodies are not allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11791/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2023, the Government 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.
My Department provided for the extension of the scheme to local authority tenancies by way of a supplementary action in Housing for All, and worked closely with the City and County Management Association (CCMA) to introduce the 'Room for a Student - Local Authority Scheme'. The scheme came into operation on 1 December 2023, and it allows local authority tenants to rent out room in their homes to eligible third level students.
My Department also engaged with the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) sector to facilitate access to the scheme to their tenants. AHBs are independent, not-for-profit organisations providing affordable rented housing for people who cannot provide housing from their own means and for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. AHBs also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members/tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
While there is nothing in legislation that prevents AHB tenants from renting rooms to other individuals under licence, in order to ensure a consistent and equitable approach, broad agreed principles are required to underpin any such scheme. My Department continues to engage with the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) in relation to the rent-a-room scheme and any challenges or concerns the sector may have in adapting the local authority scheme to their needs.
