Cost rental or HAP: which one is for you?
Cost rental and HAP both help with rent, but they're for different people. Who each one is for, how the rent works, and whether you can switch.
Cost rental, explained
Plain guides to the rules, the lottery and the paperwork, using real schemes and real rents.
Cost rental schemes open in Ireland: October 2026
Six cost rental schemes are open or opening this month, with rents from €1,017. Closing dates, rents and the income each one needs.
Cost rental income limits, explained with real rents
The €66,000 and €59,000 limits, the 35% rule, and the income you'd need for rents listed in October 2026.
How the cost rental lottery works
Why applying on day one doesn't help, how many people apply, and what happens in the 72 hours after you're picked.
What to get ready before you apply for cost rental
If you're picked, you may have 72 hours to prove your income. Here's what to gather before the draw, not after it.