Opposition parties have criticised moves by the Government to allow households to rent out modular cabins at the back of their homes and get up to €14,000 in rent tax free. The rent-a-room scheme is due to be extended to include modular cabins, with the Government preparing to remove the need for planning permission for small houses in gardens. One government source said the decision to expand the rent-a-room scheme to back garden modular cabins came following public consultation. Housing charity Threshold previously raised concerns about modular cabins being used for rentals, saying it carried “serious risks”. Mr Sheehan said many individuals in the rent-a-room scheme are under licence agreements, which do not have as strong protections as tenancy agreements.

Source: Irish Examiner March 29, 2026 15:50 UTC