Threshold asks for investment in Rent Arrears Scheme in Budget 2025

National housing charity Threshold, which has an office on the South Mall, called for the implementation of a number of measures in its pre-Budget submission.

Among them, the charity is calling for a €20m investment in a Rent Arrears Scheme to help private renters remain in their homes if they experience financial difficulties.

Threshold is calling for a rent arrears scheme that would provide low-to-no interest loans to renters to pay off all or part of their arrears, and lump-sum payments to landlords to pay all or part of a tenant’s debts.

“Putting such measures in place will be more effective and less costly to the State than allowing tenants to be evicted for rent arrears and put at risk of homelessness.

“It will prevent the potential uprooting of households, which has serious impacts on both family and community cohesion,” the charity said.

The submission also calls for the Government to increase investment in cost-rental developments and to set an “ambitious annual goal for the purchase of at least half of the rental properties in which private renters are subject to a Notice of Termination for sale”.

Also among their asks is a call for the Government to allocate the necessary funds to hold a referendum on the right to housing in 2025.

“By holding a referendum to insert a right to housing in the Constitution, the people of Ireland would be given the opportunity to give clear direction to this Government, and future governments, that they believe in the value of home, and that there is a role for the Government to ensure all people have access to a safe, secure, affordable home where they can live in dignity,” the charity said.