Rent

 

Tenant Annual Rent Review 

Find out more HERE.

As a tenant, it is very important that you keep your rent payments up to date. We operate a zero tolerance approach to the non payment of rent. The amount of rent you pay depends on the type of property you live in. You will be advised by your Resident Support Worker how your rent is calculated during the pre-tenancy process.

There are two methods for calculating rent:

(i) The Differential Rent Scheme

The differential rent scheme applies to properties funded under the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme or the earlier Rental Subsidy Scheme. Generally all our family properties were funded under this scheme and therefore those tenants pay a differential rent. This scheme calculates rent dependent upon your income and the local authority area you reside in. 

(ii) The Economic Rent Scheme

The economic rent scheme applies to properties funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme. The rent for the property depends on the size of the property and the cost of maintaining the property. The rent is set at an affordable level bearing in mind the circumstances of our tenants. Depending on your income, tenants may be able to claim rental assistance from the Department of Social Protection. Please contact your local Community Welfare Officer for further information or ask your Resident Support Worker.

FAQ

Your rent is calculated using the relevant differential rent scheme applied to your estate. If you require a copy or details of the local authority policy applicable to you please contact our customer service team.

This means that your rent is calculated by looking at the amount of income coming into your household and the makeup of your household which includes the number of people/children/dependents etc.

The Respond rent year starts from the first Monday in July and runs for 52 weeks until the beginning of the following July. Your rent is calculated based on the net income of the household plus a charge for additional adults (subsidiary earners) residing in the house. This policy applies to Respond CLSS tenancies only.

Net income is wages received after taxes (PAYE, PRSI, USC), plus any payments from the HSE or Department of Social Welfare (except for Child Benefit and listed disregards) plus any other income e.g.  work pension, maintenance payments received from 1 January to 31 December of the preceding year.

Household income is the total income of all persons aged 18 years or over residing in the home, who is not a child of the Tenant or the Joint Tenant or the Spouse of the Tenant or the Partner of the Tenant.

Income from the following sources is disregarded:
Children’s Allowances, Scholarships / Higher Education Grants or payments to students attending an outreach programme, Fuel Allowance, Living Alone Allowance, “Half-Rate” Carer’s Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Foster Care Allowance.

Income from the following sources is calculated as the basic relevant social welfare rate:
Carers Allowance, Community Employment scheme, Back to Work scheme, Jobs-bridge scheme, Internships, TÙS scheme. Where the income details submitted are less than the minimum Social Welfare entitlement for the household, the rent will be assessed on the basis of basic social welfare entitlements.

Rent Calculation

A minimum rent of €15.00 applies to the first €100 of Household income per week

– Plus –

Rent is calculated at the rate of 20 cent per €1 (20%) on any Household income in excess of €100 per week,

– Less –

A deduction of €1 for each child under the age of 18 living in the household.

The capped rent charge (including the €15 minimum rent above) is €100 per week

– Plus –

An additional charge of €15 per week for each person aged over 18 years living in the household (subsidiary earner), who has not been included in the household income calculation above. This additional charge will not apply to a person under the age of 23 in full time education. The maximum additional charge for subsidiary earners is €30 (i.e. 2 persons x €15).

Maximum and Minimum Rent
The minimum rent payable is €15 per week. The capped rent payable in total, in respect of household income and subsidiary earners is €130 per week i.e. €100 (household income rent) + €30 (for maximum of 2 subsidiary earners, i.e. 2 x €15). If service charges are applicable to your estate these will be considered additional charges.

Service Charges
 In some Respond properties (usually apartments) an additional Service Charge will apply.  This covers the cost of maintaining the communal areas, grounds, lifts, refuse collection etc. The Service Charge is based on the costs of running the scheme and will therefore vary between different properties. Our Resident Support Worker will be able to advise you of local charges.

Documentation
In order for us to assess your rent for the relevant year we require details of your household income, this includes details of everyone residing in your property, including their date of birth and PPS number.  Evidence from the college or institution must be provided for all persons aged over 18 and under 23 in full time education. If we do not receive this information your rent will be set at €120 in respect of household income only. It is a requirement of your letting conditions to provide this information on an annual basis.

Cases of Hardship
In exceptional circumstances where payment of a rent calculated under the terms above would, in the opinion of the Company give rise to hardship, the Company may agree to accept a lesser sum from a tenant for a specified period.

Respond rents are calculated with reference to the provisions of the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government, Capital Funding Schemes for the Provision of Rental Accommodation by Approved Housing Bodies (Voluntary & Co-Operative Housing) Memorandum: VHU2/02, May 2002.

Respond Housing Association issues rent statements to residents every 3 months. If you have an issue with anything on your quarterly rent statement, please contact our Rent Department on 051 840200. It is important to keep all rent statements, as well as any receipts you are given, bank statements etc.

You can also check your account online by visiting TIPS (Tenant Information Portal System) at https://tenant.respond.ie .  This allows you view an updated list of all rent charges and payments on your account.  To use TIPS you will need your 6-digit account number (starting with the numbers 91xxxx or 92xxxx) and password.  Please contact your Resident Support Worker if you need any assistance using this facility.

We carry out an annual rent review during which time we reassess your financial circumstances. It is important that you return all relevant income documentation to us so that we can complete a rent re-assessment. If your financial circumstances change dramatically during the year, you should contact our customer service team to let them know, as well as supplying them with your income documentation.

You are breaching the terms of your tenancy agreement if you pay your rent late. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us immediately. Confidential advice and assistance is available from our staff who will do all they can to assist you.

Depending on the level of arrears, the following may occur:

  • Our staff will offer advice on how to manage your debt and overall household budgeting or we may refer you to the Money and Advice Budgeting Service
  • We will establish a repayment plan with you that will help to clear the rent arrears
  • A “Notice to Quit” or NTQ may be issued to you
  • Court action may result