Rent a room scheme

City managers worried about council tenants being let rent rooms tax-free

Fears emerge that government plans to extend private rent-a-room initiative could cause major problems for local authorities

Up to 28,000 of Ireland’s 140,000 council homes are classed as ‘under-occupied’ because they have spare bedrooms. Picture: Getty

City and county managers have expressed serious concerns about the government’s plan to allow council tenants to rent out rooms tax free.

There are around 140,000 council homes across the country, and between 14,000 and 28,000 of them are classed as “under-occupied” because they have spare bedrooms.

Ministers agreed last March to allow council tenants to rent out their rooms to earn up to €14,000 tax free under the rent-a room scheme, which is currently ...