COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2026

QUESTION NO. 29

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on recent rent increases, including the basis on which they are considered reasonable and fair, and how they compare with rents charged by other local authorities.

REPLY:

Each local authority has autonomy in determining how social housing rents are set through a differential rent scheme which is a function of the council’s executive. We are however, very conscious that any adjustments to the scheme must first and foremost be equitable and affordable for our tenants, while also being sufficient to meet all of the costs involved in managing, maintaining and upgrading our social homes now and into the future.

The Housing Strategic Policy Committee was consulted on proposed amendments to the scheme at meetings held on 11th November 2025, 12th February 2026 and 14th May 2026. A comparison of SDCC rents to those charged by other local authorities is available in Housing SPC Rents Report May 2026.

The amendments to rents have been informed by a detailed review of tenant household incomes, local and national rents, and future housing maintenance requirements arising from ongoing social housing stock condition surveys.

In particular, the recent Local Government Audit Service VFM Report on Local Authorities Differential Rent Schemes  demonstrated that, despite our higher maintenance costs and increasing future requirements, rents charged by SDCC were generally lowest of all local authorities nationally across a range of different household sizes and incomes.

Data from the LGAS report shows that during 2025 some households in South Dublin were being charged rents that were an average of 55% less than similar households in similar properties in other Dublin local authority areas which is clearly not sustainable or equitable.

Separately, local councillors have highlighted some instances where households with incomes in excess of social housing thresholds were paying a disproportionately higher percentage of their income on rent which equally needed to be addressed.

The revised rent scheme, under which tenant household incomes provides consistency across all households with updated rents of up to 12.5% of net household income, ensuring that rents correspond with tenants’ ability to pay.  Average rents under the new scheme are expected to be approximately €346 per month for households in social homes, an increase of 3.7%.

The scheme also features new measures to ensure that rents remain fair, proportionate and reasonable, including:

Adjustments to the council’s rental income are essential to fund projected investment of over €49m for planned maintenance work in our current three-year capital programme.  This work will enhance living conditions and home energy efficiency for tenants while being sustainably funded from equitable and affordable rents.