Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2024
262. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the progress made in respect of the review into the differential rent administered by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/24]
View answerThe Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents. This system is known as the ‘differential rents’ system. It is a critical piece of State’s welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who can’t meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources.
The system currently comprises 32 income-based schemes which differ across local authorities, with amounts charged and approaches to calculating rent varying considerably.
Housing for All commits to developing proposals to review the existing differential rent system and to provide for a standardised, national local authority social housing rent model. The objective is to develop and implement a model that provides the best blend between fairness, progressivity and sustainability.
My Department has completed an initial scoping exercise to determine the focus of the review. Further work has commenced to consider the practical application of such a scheme in the context of other reform package measures, as well as the broader circumstances of social housing funding programmes and the cost of living issues at this time.
Proposals will be submitted to me for my consideration in due course and any decision to implement a standardised national rents scheme will be considered thereafter, as appropriate.
