Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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1418. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when his Department will resolve the ongoing issues for tenants in the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme with houses owned by the Housing Agency, with tenants still paying high rents with no recourse for repairs or maintenance, or long-term rental agreements or registration with the RTB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41043/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2023 for tenants in private rental homes who are not in receipt of social housing supports, but are at risk of homelessness because a landlord has served a valid Notice of Termination due to an intention to sell the property.

The Local Authority conducts the initial assessment for eligibility of the tenant for this scheme and refers potential cases to the Housing Agency, which is responsible for administering and managing the scheme on behalf of my Department.

The rent charged to the tenant does not change at the point when the property is acquired by the Housing Agency, which gives security to the tenants, as they receive the continuation of a stable tenancy and elimination of the risk of homelessness.

Following the acquisition, the Housing Agency carries out any necessary repairs and upgrades required to ensure compliance with the Housing (Standards For Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 137 of 2019).

The intention is to transition these homes to the standard Cost Rental model over time. Changes were necessary to the Affordable Housing Act 2021 to facilitate these properties moving to the Cost Rental sector. These changes were made last year via the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 and ensure that the necessary legal framework is now in place. My Department has been working with the Housing Agency to implement this transition.