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.
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.
