Taxback is calling on the Government to abolish a rule that prevents private residential tenants from claiming the newly established €500 rent credit. There are nearly 5,000 tenants across Cavan and Monaghan, and many of them are loosing out because one of the conditions of the new rent credit is that the tenancy is registered with the Residential Tenancy Board.
Marian Ryan, Consumer Tax Manager with Taxback, told Northern Sound that rents have risen by as much as 20% across this region over the past 12 months. She highlighted how many local renters can't access the credit because their landlord has not registered their tenancy.
Marian added that while the Credit is "only a drop in the ocean" when compared with rental costs, it does help to pay the bills during these very expensive times. "There are approximately 2,000 rental tenancies in Monaghan registered with the RTB but the fact is - it is likely there are many others not registered and it is these tenants who will lose out on the rent credit".
"We have become aware of a number of tenants who have hit a wall when they tried to claim the rent credit because their own landlord hasn't registered the tenancy with the RTB. Tenants in such positions have their hands tied.
"A landlord who hasn't registered a tenancy with the RTB could be receiving their rent in cash and so there may be no trace of that rent being paid, unless a receipt is being provided to the tenant, which may not always be the case.
"It can be very difficult, if not impossible, for a tenant to challenge such a landlord and request that the landlord registers the tenancy because, in practice, the tenant could risk losing their accommodation if they do so," she added.
