Rental Accommodation Scheme

Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) was established in 2004 and is a government initiative to cater for people who qualify for social housing supports and are in receipt of rent supplement (state support payment) and living in the private rented sector for 18 months or more.

RAS has placed responsibility on local authorities to:

meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or longer, and
who are assessed as having a long-term housing need.

RAS provides a more structured, accommodation-based approach to the use of the private rented sector to meet long-term housing need, thereby eliminating dependence on temporary income support payments, i.e. rent supplement.

While RAS is now defined in legislation as a form of social housing support, it is still a targeted programme for accommodating rent supplement households.

In order to apply a landlord must be tax compliant and their property must pass an inspection to ensure the quality of the accommodation.

Rents paid will be negotiated.

Expressions of Interest - Landlords

Kilkenny County Council are seeking expressions of interest from Landlords who have properties to let in Kilkenny City and Environs and may wish to include these properties under the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

We are interested in renting 2, 3 and 4 bed properties in Kilkenny in order to meet current social housing demand.

Landlords will ;

Receive guaranteed rental income from the local authority monthly.
Have no rent collection or rent arrears obligations.
Not incur advertising or administrative overheads.
Be required to register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

The owner will:

Retain responsibility for day-to-day property maintenance.
Be the landlord to tenants nominated by the local authority.
Register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

Please contact the undersigned if you wish to learn more or download the RAS landlord Registration of Interest.pdf (size 686.1 KB) or contact Liz Teehan at 056 7794976

Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) availability arrangements can be entered into between Kilkenny County Council and property owners. There are two common contract types.

The most common is the availability type arrangement under which property owners will:

Receive guaranteed rental income from the local authority monthly.
Receive rent payments for vacancy periods.
Have no rent collection or rent arrears obligations.
Not incur advertising or administrative overheads.
Be required to register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

The owner will:

Retain responsibility for day-to-day property maintenance.
Be the landlord to tenants nominated by the local authority.
Register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

The other form of contract is a tenancy-by-tenancy arrangement where an agreement remains in place for a specific tenant and ceases once that tenant moves out. Payments are not made for vacancy periods under this arrangement. The property owner may offer the property to the local authority at the end of the initial agreement for a further term.

The type of contract entered into is at the discretion of Kilkenny County Council.

Rent Amount

Owners will receive a rent amount of approximately 92% of the current market rent. The rent discount may vary in the Availability Arrangement and rents will be agreed through negotiation with Kilkenny County Council.
The rent discount is applied to take account of the fact that the property owner is paid for vacant unoccupied periods, rent is paid in advance and the normal landlord tasks associated with filling voids are eliminated.
Rent reviews will be negotiated on a case by case basis and will usually be every two years.

Availability Arrangements

Legal Agreement

Where the availability type arrangement is used, owners will sign an ‘availability agreement’ with the local authority. Under the terms of this agreement, the owner agrees to make the property available for a specific period for nominees of Kilkenny County Council and to maintain the property in a lettable condition.

Main Terms of the Arrangement

The key landlord and tenant (and tenancy agreement) will be between the property owner and the nominated tenant.
The owner will retain responsibility for:
— Insurance of the property, landlord contents and public liability.
— Payment of the management company service charge; (if any) and other changes such as the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge and the Household Charge.
— Dealing with breaches of the tenant’s obligations to the landlord, should they arise.
The local authority will nominate tenants when vacancies arise.
Owners will receive a rent of approximately 92% of the current market rent.
Payments will usually be made monthly.
Upward and downward rent reviews will apply periodically.

Property Requirements

Properties are required where there is a general demand for housing, primarily in urban areas, i.e. towns and cities around the country. Generally, one, two and three bedroom houses and apartments are required. A limited number of four bedroom houses are required.

Property Standards

Properties must be in good condition and will be subject to inspection by Kilkenny County Council.
Properties must be compliant with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 and must comply with all Planning and Building Regulations.
BER certificates will be required for all properties. Minimum BER criteria for Kilkenny County Council is “D2”
Bed-sits will not be considered.

How to make a proposal

Property owners interested in either of the options available can submit details of their property to Kilkenny County Council on a RAS Registration of Interest Form.

Enquiries in relation to the Rental Accommodation Scheme can also be made by contacting the RAS Co-ordinator in Kilkenny County Council at 056-7794976.

What is the process?

Property owner submit proposal and Kilkenny County Council considers the proposal and will make an assessment as to the need for housing in the area. The Local Authority will contact the property owner to discuss the proposal in more detail. The Local Authority will also discuss the rent amount payable on the property at this point with the property owner.
Property owner would facilitate an inspection if the property is in a location where the Local Authority has a housing need, the property will be inspected to determine if it is appropriate for the Rental Accommodation Scheme. The landlord will be requested to carry out works and submit certificates as requested by the Engineer within a specific timeframe. Once works are completed and certificates are submitted a second inspection will be carried out by the Engineer who will advise if the property is ready to be taken into the Scheme.
Rental Agreement and Supporting Documents Once the property passes the inspection process, a proposed rent agreement and request for supporting documentation will be issued to the property owner. Supporting documents required may include proof of ownership, lenders consent if required, and evidence of planning and building control compliance, etc. A tax clearance certificate and BER certificate are required.
Sign Agreements The property owner and the local authority sign the rental agreement for a set term. Tenants are allocated to the property and both parties adhere to the conditions of the arrangement for the term agreed.

Alternative Arrangement

Kilkenny County Council is notified by the D.S.F.A. of all clients in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 + months. The Local Authority assess these clients to ascertain if they are eligible for social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme. Should the client advise that they wish to stay in their current private rented accommodation on a long term bases the Local Authority will liaise with the Landlord regarding the Rental Accommodation Scheme. Should the Landlord wish to partake in the Scheme the above outlined process will similarly apply.

Please phone 056 - 7794900 if you have any queries in relation to the scheme.