Cost Rental

This new housing tenure offers a long-term, secure rental option that will contribute to the development of a healthy housing market in Ireland. The rent is based on the cost of building, managing and maintaining the homes which means it is an affordable housing option.

You can apply on the Respond website and follow the instructions. This is the only method to apply, applications cannot be made by post or over the phone.

Once you have selected the property you want to apply for, you will need to enter your details into our self-service eligibility checker and register your interest.

If you are deemed eligible, you will need to provide supporting documents before your application can be included in the lottery.

Please have the following documents ready:

• Proof of identity for each household member
• Proof of income for each household member aged 18 or over
• Bank statements for the previous six months

Your address and residency information will be verified using the information and supporting documents provided as part of your application, including your bank statements and employment details.

If you are currently renting, you will be asked to provide details of your current living situation and landlord on the application form.

If your application is eligible , you will be asked to upload your documents to complete the application process.

You must upload your documents before the application deadline to be entered into the lottery.

If you are asked to upload supporting documents, please ensure they are clear, current and contain the information needed to assess your application.

• Proof of ID

• • Current valid signed passport
  • Current valid passport card
  • Current valid travel document
  • Current valid EU/EEA driving licence containing a photograph, including an Irish provisional licence
  • Current EU National Identity Card
• Proof of income  – Income evidence is required for all household members aged 18 or over.

Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

• • If employed
    • Employment Details Summary
    • Payslips for the last 3 months

• • If self-employed
    • Notice of self-assessment for the most recent tax yearor
    • Letter from registered accountant that outlines net earnings
  • If receiving social welfare income
    • Documentary evidence of social insurance, social assistance payments, allowances or pensions received.
    • Most recent social welfare payment receipt or payment statement from the department of social protection. Proofs must show the weekly amount paid to you by the department of social protection.

    Below is a link that will direct you direct you to mywelfare.ie and will aid you in requesting a social welfare payment statement. Please ensure when requesting, that you input weekly dates i.e. 12 October 2026 to 18 October 2026, this will ensure to return a document with the sufficient evidence of your income.

    https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/statements-refunds-and-repayments/payment-statement/

     

• Bank StatementsPlease provide bank statements for the previous six months.

  Your bank statements, together with relevant information provided with your application, may also be used to verify your address and residency. Separate proof of address and proof of residency are therefore not required.

• Current Living Situation

  If you are currently renting, you will be asked to provide information about your current living situation and your landlord details as part of the application form.

To be eligible, you need to be able to prove the following;

• Your net household income is below €66,000 per annum
• You are not in receipt of any social housing supports
• You do not own a property
• Your household size matches the size of the property advertised
• You can afford to pay the cost rent for the home
• Your household has only entered one application for a specific cost rental property

We will carry out an affordability test to ensure your rent charge is not more than 35% of your net household income. In the event that it is higher, we will give you the option to provide evidence, that based on your current income you have paid the same rent or higher, for the preceding two years without defaulting.

You should apply for the size property that matches your needs. We will seek not to under or over occupy properties. Set out below, are the guidelines we will be adopting:

• One-bed unit – suitable for a single person, or cohabiting couple.
• Two-bed unit – suitable for two adults or cohabiting couple/lone parent with 1 or 2 children under the age of 10 years or with 2 children over the age of 10 years of the same sex.
• Three-bed unit – suitable for three adults, a cohabiting couple/lone parent with 3 or 4 children over the age of 10 of the same sex, a cohabiting couple/lone parent with 2 children over the age of 10 years of the opposite sex, or a cohabiting couple/lone parent with a 3 or 4 children under the age of 10 of the opposite sex.
• Four-bed unit – suitable for four adults, a cohabiting couple/lone parent with 5 or 6 children over the age of 10 of the same sex, a cohabiting couple/lone parent with 3 children over the age of 10 years, or a cohabiting couple/lone parent with 5 or 6 children under the age of 10 of the opposite sex.

We will not consider an application that will lead to over occupation of a property. Over occupation is where more than two children are occupying one bedroom per household or where two children one of whom is aged 10 or more, of opposite sex are sharing a room.

Net household income is calculated by adding together the net income for each household member aged 18 years and over. Net income means that income tax, universal social charge, pension related deductions and PRSI are deducted from the relevant gross assessable income.

The following incomes are assessable for the purposes of assessing eligibility for cost rental housing:

1. Income from employment including overtime, bonuses and commissions;

• overtime payments, commissions and bonuses will be assessable as follows:
• overtime – generally restricted to a maximum of 10% of basic income, but regular overtime may be taken into account;
• bonus – restricted to a maximum of 10% of basic income;
• commission – restricted to a maximum of 30% of basic income, where applicable;

2. Income from self-employment;
3. Maintenance payments received
4. Income from dividends, capital investments and other similar sources of income;
5. Occupational and social welfare pensions, from whatever source, including from abroad, and
6. All income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances, and benefits, including Family Income Supplement is assessable, with the exception of the below.

Income from the following sources shall, in all cases, be disregarded for the purposes of assessing income:

• Child benefit or guardian’s payment;
• Exceptional or urgent needs payments;
• Carer’s allowance;
• Scholarships or higher education grants;
• Foster care payments;
• Domiciliary care allowance;
• Allowances/assistance from charities;
• Fuel allowance;
• Mobility allowance;
• Living alone allowance.

All cost rental rents are set at a minimum level of 25% below the market rents in the area where the scheme is located.

Each Cost Rental scheme page will outline the monthly rent.

The deposits for each unit type will be one month’s rent minus €50.

Each Cost Rental scheme page will outline the monthly rent.

The properties are unfurnished; They will have flooring, blinds and white goods (fridge/freezer, dishwasher, oven & hob, microwave, washer/dryer)

Flooring coverings will be laminate flooring.

The tenant will have the right to remain in occupation for an unlimited duration, after the tenant has been in continuous occupation for 6 months. 

Applications are assessed at point of entry. If for example, after you’ve been allocated a property your household income increased above €59,000 outside Dublin and above €66,000 within Dublin you would still be entitled to continue renting the property.

The lottery will be run once the advertising of the properties has ceased. This is operated by an external agency with full audit trail for transparency. The lottery will create at random; a list of all applicants and we will approach applicants from the top of the list.

The lottery is not run immediately upon applications closing. If your name is chosen from the lottery, you will be notified via email.

Yes, we will notify all applicants, via email, whether they are successful or not.

No. These properties will not be available to purchase.

No – Respond will not be holding a waiting list for cost rental housing. You will be able to apply again when schemes are advertised.

No. You cannot transfer or apply for a cost rental tenancy if you receive social housing supports.

No, one application per household only is permitted. Anyone applying multiple times will be disqualified from the lottery.

Yes, there will. Keep an eye on the Respond website for further details on upcoming cost rental schemes.

Rent is applied to your account automatically on the first of each month. To help you stay on track and avoid falling into arrears, please ensure your payment reaches Respond before this date. If you’re experiencing any difficulties, please reach out, we’re here to support you.

Parking is not guaranteed at our developments, please view the scheme specific FAQs for further information.