The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is a new initiative to cater for people who are in receipt of rent supplement (state support payment) and living in the private rented sector for 18 months or more.

Under the Scheme, Dublin City Council wish to enter into direct contracts with Landlords for their properties for a minimum of 4 years.

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

In the interest of good estate management, detailed and comprehensive background checks are carried out by the Council on all potential RAS tenants.

Rents paid will be negotiated.

Find out more about the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

What does RAS offer?

There are a number of benefits to landlords by going on the RAS.

Guaranteed rent for a minimum of 4 years

• No vacancies
• No advertising costs
• Tenants screened for you
• No arrears
• No rent collection

Register your Interest

Register your interest in the Scheme by completing the Registration Form and returning it to: Housing & Residential Services, Rental Accommodation Scheme, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 or email ras@dublincity.ie

Rental Values

Rental values are determined by negotiation and reflect local market conditions.

You should note that we will seek a reduction in current rent as a result of the benefits of the Rental Accommodation Scheme to you. These benefits include:

• Guaranteed income.
  
• Guaranteed prompt payment by a state agency.
  
• You do not have to collect rent for the duration of a Rental Accommodation Scheme contract.
  
• You do not have to fill vacancies (advertise and interview prospective tenants) for the duration of a Rental Accommodation Scheme contract.
  
• Rental Accommodation Scheme provides more than the average rental yield due to less tenant turnover.
  
• In the interest of good estate management, detailed and comprehensive background checks are carried out by the Council on all potential RAS tenants.

Deposits and Damage to Property

No deposits will be paid. However, where damage is caused to property, which is above routine wear and tear, we may guarantee the equivalent of up to one month’s rent towards the cost of repair/replacement.
The details of this will be the subject of negotiation.

Contracts

A series of contract types have been developed for use on the RAS scheme. These form the basis for contract negotiation. These fall broadly into three types.

• An availability type arrangement to secure medium to long-term availability of accommodation (with us having nomination rights to accommodation).
  
• A tenancy-by-tenancy arrangement to meet short-term accommodation requirements (we guarantee rent payment only for term that a specified tenancy is in existence)
  
• A long-term PPP/Part V type arrangement between developers and us to secure long-term availability of accommodation.

We will nominate a RAS tenant for you. This tenant will sign a residential tenancy agreement with you. The nominee could be an existing tenant who currently receives rent supplement and is eligible for the RAS.
Your accommodation may be an existing property or new build.
The local authority will be party to this agreement as guarantor of the rent.

Contract Responsibilities

The form of contract entered into will set out the general responsibilities of all three parties.
Within certain parameters we will be able to negotiate the particular conditions under which you will make your property available for the Rental Accommodation Scheme.
We can provide you with further information about the form of the contractual arrangements if you wish.

Your Responsibilities

The key “landlord and tenant” relationship remains between you and the tenant. We act as a broker or agent on behalf of the tenant.
As such, you retain responsibility for:

• Insurance: property, landlord’s contents and public liability.
  
• Routine Maintenance/Repair and replacement of equipment.
  
• Dealing with breaches of the tenant’s obligations