Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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715. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to conduct a review of the financing and delivery of cost rental schemes and the rent setting of these schemes in light of the growing number of applicants denied access to cost rental accommodation who, despite meeting the income eligibility criteria, are refused on the grounds that they do not meet the affordability criteria whereby rents cannot be more than a third of their take-home pay. [46404/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All targets the delivery of 18,000 new Cost Rental homes to 2030. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies the Land Development Agency, and now also private providers under the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme.

The Cost Rental model ensures rents are based on the costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes, providing financial sustainability and security for tenants. Where State funding is provided to support delivery of homes, rents typically start at least 25% below those for comparable homes in the private market.

Eligibility for Cost Rental homes is determined by a maximum net annual household income of €66,000 in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere, as set out under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and associated Regulations.

However, Cost Rental landlords also need to be reasonably certain that eligible tenants can reliably sustain the rent payments, since rents must always cover costs in order for the model to work. The legislation therefore provides landlords with discretion to consider the suitability of eligible tenants.

My Department continues to monitor the delivery and operation of the Cost Rental schemes to ensure it remains effective and accessible to those who need it most.