Medical card exemption to Rent-a-Room scheme will benefit students – Byrne

Homeowners can earn up to €14,000 a year tax-free by renting a room to students without it impacting their medical card, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Maria Byrne, who has long been advocating for this measure has said it will come as a welcome relief to students searching for accommodation for the next academic year.

“The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 guarantees a disregard of income up to €14,000 from the Rent-a-Room scheme from assessments for medical cards.

“Students will be happy to know that with this measure there will be increased supply of housing in the market, so there will be more options available for the new academic year.

“Those with medical cards, particularly older people who may have a spare room and want to rent it to a student can now be assured that their medical card won’t be impacted.

“In Limerick there are three third level institutions so there can often be a shortage of accommodation during the academic year.  I regularly hear from parents who are struggling to find rooms for their children going to college.

“Many widows and widowers were willing to rent out their room but didn’t, for fear of losing their medical card. That fear has now been alleviated.

“We are constantly hearing about the difficulties for students and young people sourcing accommodation. This will help ease the pressure over the summer months when they will be searching for rooms to rent.

“For years renting ‘digs’ has been a major part of college life. The Rent-a-Room scheme incentivises both parties to consider this option, and pensioners who would like to rent a room to students can now be reassured that their medical card will not be affected”, concluded Senator Byrne.