Rent-a-room scheme fails to find traction

DESPITE being launched with ‘huge fanfare’ as a response to the student accommodation crisis, Galway County Council has confirmed that only three applications have so far been received for the Rent-a-Room scheme from local authority tenants. And one of them is a duplicate.

Under the national ‘Room for a Student Local Authority Tenancies Scheme,’ which opened in December 2023, social housing tenants – like private owners – are allowed to rent a spare room in their home to a third-level student and earn up to €14,000 a year tax-free under Rent-a-Room relief.

However, Cllr Geraldine Donohue (Ind) said the reply from the Council showed a “very interesting” lack of uptake given that Galway is a university county.

“There were only three applications, of which one was a duplicate, in the whole of the county,” she said at this month’s meeting of Galway County Council,” she said.

“This was announced with a huge amount of fanfare by the Minister at the time as another response to the housing crisis. I’d like to know if we have any comparisons with other local authorities, or feedback on why this wasn’t taken up.”

The scheme requires tenants to have no rent arrears, be compliant with their tenancy agreement, keep the home in good condition, and avoid overcrowding. Students must be full-time, over 18, tax-compliant, not related to the host and have no history of anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Donohue also questioned the administrative workload and stated that there is an “amount of administration for one valid application and we are short-staffed as it is.”

A Council official acknowledged the “limited response”, suggesting geography may be a factor.

“Renting a room in many of our county towns might simply be too far out,” the Council heard.

“It’s probably more applicable in Galway City. The scheme has merit, but the fact it was confined to students may also be a factor. If it were opened to other potential tenants, that could make a difference.”

Cllr Donohue added that Galway City’s application numbers “will tell the tale”, given the higher concentration of students and demand for housing closer to the university.

■ Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

Pictured: Reaction...Cllr Geraldine Donohue.