Latest news with #housingSupport
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Minister casts doubt over increase in rent tax credit ahead of budget
The Housing Minister has poured cold water over any plans to increase the rent tax credit in the upcoming budget, saying the country is living through 'uncertain terms'. James Browne said he will negotiate with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe but added that a lot of tough decisions will be made as part of Budget 2026. Advertisement The rent tax credit increased by €250 to €1,000 euros for private tenants earlier this year. The measure was first introduced as part of Budget 2023 and has gradually increased since then. Mr Browne said the rent tax credit was a 'huge support' for renters. 'I think all of us in Government are very conscious of that. We're conscious that rents are unfortunately continuing to increase,' he added. Advertisement 'That's why we're making decisions we're making now to increase the supply so we can get rents back down. 'It's the only way we're going to get rents down is by increasing that supply. 'But in terms of the budget, I think, as we do every year, we'll enter in negotiations with Minister Donohoe across Government. 'A lot of tough decisions have to be made. Advertisement 'We're in very uncertain terms, and I leave any discussion for any tax credit to the budget. 'I think the budgetary situation is far more uncertain than it was in the past. 'But I think the commitment of this Government to renters, in terms of the different tax credits that we've had to date, and in terms of the rent security now we're bringing in to change the legislation. 'Our commitment is there for renters.' Advertisement The minister also defended his plan to lower the cost of apartments by reducing their size. The Cabinet signed off on new guidelines for apartment building brought by Mr Browne on Tuesday. It includes a reduction in the minimum size of studio apartments from 37 square metres to 32 square metres. In an attempt to improve delivery costs of apartment schemes, the Government would also remove any restrictions on apartment mix. Advertisement Mr Browne, who said his proposals will reduce costs by between €50,000 and €100,000 per unit, also confirmed he will publish the research which shows this. He added: 'We know we have to make very real decisions here. 'We were very disappointed with the number of homes that were delivered last year. 'We did expect a higher number. I went through why that happened. 'I really analysed it, and when you look at it, it's actually a collapse in delivery of apartments in Dublin city. 'We need to get those apartments delivered, whether they're built to rent or whether they're built to sale as a key part of getting the homes delivered. 'We will publish that research. So we will make it available. 'The very fact that apartments are not being built at a scale that we need, it's actually collapsing in terms of delivery, we see apartments being built in other cities across Europe, international finance is going elsewhere, not to here. 'There's a massive affordability piece for people who want to rent or purchase, but for the developers, there's a viability piece. 'They are saying that if they build them at the current cost it would take to do so, nobody would be able to purchase them, and that's why they're not doing so. Ireland Minister told new apartment guidelines are 'insani... Read More 'We need to get them built, and that's why we're making these decisions. None of these decisions are easy. 'Having the highest specification of apartments that never leave the design table is of no benefit to the people living in a box room at home.' He made the comments as he turned the sod at James McSweeney House, a development by Cabhru and Dublin City Council which will see 35 units built for older people.
Irish Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
More than 100 families in Dublin at risk of homelessness as tenant-in-situ applications paused
More than 100 families in Dublin are at risk of homelessness after Dublin City Council paused new applications to the tenant-in-situ scheme due to a lack of funding, council figures indicate. The scheme allows local authorities to buy properties where the tenants are facing eviction because the landlord is selling. It applies to tenants who have received a notice of termination, are deemed at risk of homelessness and who qualify for social housing support such as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). New restrictions were applied to the scheme this year, including a stipulation that the home must be in the HAP or RAS system for at least two years. READ MORE There have also been lengthy delays in the issuing of Government funding to the scheme as Minister for Housing James Browne reviewed its terms. The council's head of housing Mick Mulhern told city councillors at the end of March that no confirmation of its funding allocation had been sent by the Department of Housing . [ Housing Minister James Browne: 'If we don't get this right over the next four to seven months, we're going to be in serious, serious trouble' Opens in new window ] At that point there were 104 applications to the council for access to the scheme. The council spent €117 million on 261 tenant-in-situ and 83 vacant property acquisitions in 2024. However, following an inquiry by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne last week, the council confirmed in correspondence that 'the tenant-in-situ scheme is no longer operating' and that 'the funding has been withdrawn'. When asked to comment on the remarks, the council said: 'The acquisitions section have confirmed that the 2025 budget for the tenant-in-situ (TiS) scheme has been allocated, and that DCC will not be purchasing any further properties through the TiS scheme until 2026.' Mr Hearne said the decision was 'absolutely unacceptable' and would result in 'families and children being thrown into homelessness'. 'It also goes against the commitment made by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael when they lifted the eviction ban in 2023 that they would provide protections for tenants through a tenant-in-situ scheme, and a supposedly renewed commitment made to the tenant-in-situ scheme this year,' Mr Hearne said. Asked to comment on the correspondence received by Mr Hearne, a spokesman for the council said it had been allocated €95 million for the entire 2025 acquisitions programme. This covers the Buy and Renew Scheme, second-hand acquisitions for elderly people and those with a disability, exits from homelessness and the tenant-in-situ scheme. The council said that of the €95 million allocated for 2025, about €37 million will be used to fund the cost of homes acquired in 2024. [ The homeless university lecturer: 'There's a sense of shame around it' Opens in new window ] A further portion of the €95 million will be used to fund the acquisition of homes that were sale-agreed in 2024, 'but that will only complete in 2025, and a portion will be used to fund the refurbishment costs for works carried out in 2024″, the council said. 'DCC is currently working with the Department of Housing to determine how much of the €95 million will remain once all of the above are accounted for,' the spokesperson said. 'In advance of completing this assessment, DCC is unable to proceed with any new tenant in situ.' The department denied that any funding had been withdrawn, saying: 'The Government is committed to continue tenant-in-situ or second-hand acquisitions as an option for our local authorities.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
International Students Fear Leaving the U.S. as Trump's Visa Threats Mount
Schools extend housing and legal support as many students from abroad cancel plans to go home this summer.
CBC
30-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.S. government looks to compensate rent supplement recipients who were underpaid
Nova Scotia's minister responsible for housing has asked officials in his department to look at compensating people who receive rent supplements that were underpaid for the last two years. Colton LeBlanc told reporters on Thursday that the underpayments — discovered as part of a recent audit of the program — would have been in the range of $10 to $30 per month. While those could be considered smaller amounts, "for folks who rely on a rent supplement, it could be big," the minister said. LeBlanc said the internal audit performed by EY was ordered to take a look at what is a relatively new program that has grown "significantly and exponentially" to support people who need help making rent. The province now spends more than $70 million on rent supplements, compared to about $11 million when the Progressive Conservatives came to power in 2021. "We've tripled the number of people being supported with this rent supplement program," said LeBlanc. "We know of its importance to so many Nova Scotians." 'Human error does occur' The audit findings showed that 104 recipients in East Hants and Timberlea were underpaid during the last two years because their supplement was based on incorrect geographic information. Rent supplements are calculated based on average market rent for a given area. Although the audit found there were also some overpayments to clients due to miscalculations, the minister and his department were unable to provide further details. There are 1,200 total program clients in the assessed area. LeBlanc said that after the errors were detected, corrections were made to ensure appropriate payments beginning with recipients' respective renewal dates. He wasn't sure if people were notified that they were underpaid. "Human error does occur, so we've made changes to the program where now this is automated to avoid these instances moving forward," he said. The audit was made public through the province's freedom of information disclosure website, although the government did not publicize it. NDP Leader Claudia Chender told reporters that the government should have provided more public disclosure about the audit and its findings. She noted the underpayments come at a time when many people in Nova Scotia are still struggling to maintain or find a place to live. "The rent supplement program has been a large part of this government's answer to that and it's clear that they've been mismanaging that."
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Housing support opens to Saudis aged 20 in major policy shift
JEDDAH: In a significant move to broaden access to homeownership, Saudi Arabia has reduced the minimum age for housing support eligibility from 25 to 20. The policy shift is designed to accelerate homeownership among younger citizens and aligns with the Kingdom's broader economic and social development goals. Announcing the update on social media platform X, Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for endorsing the changes. 'This step will contribute to enabling more families to benefit from diverse housing and financing options, in line with the goals of the Housing Program and Saudi Vision 2030 to raise the homeownership rate to 70 percent,' the minister said. The reform marks a continued commitment by Saudi Arabia to expand the reach and impact of the Saudi Housing Program, or Sakani, a key initiative driving social welfare and economic growth. The program was recently lauded by the International Monetary Fund in its September Article IV Consultation report, which cited notable accomplishments including a rise in the homeownership rate to approximately 64 percent, a 90 percent satisfaction rate among beneficiaries, and a wide variety of housing options. According to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Hogail stated: 'The move reflects the leadership's continued commitment to strengthening the Kingdom's housing sector and enabling more citizens to own their first homes with ease and flexibility.' He added that the updated regulations would offer a wider array of options tailored to the needs of different Saudi households. One of the landmark reforms includes removing the financial dependency requirement previously applied to wives and divorced mothers, ensuring equal access to housing support regardless of gender. The eligibility period for divorced women has been also revised, with details to be clarified in forthcoming implementing regulations. Previously, divorced mothers were subject to a two-year waiting period before qualifying for support. Another notable change reduces the mandatory holding period for housing support assets—from 10 years to five—allowing beneficiaries to transfer or sell their supported assets more quickly. This is intended to provide greater flexibility and reflect the changing economic and social landscape of Saudi families. The amendments also include enhanced accountability measures. Stricter penalties have been introduced for submitting false information, and authorities will now be able to reclaim any type of housing subsidy—including financial aid, residential units, or land—if an applicant is found to have provided misleading data. Citizens will be able to apply under the new criteria once regulatory procedures are finalized and officially announced.
