Study identifies 50,000 ‘spare beds’ in Limerick
AS THE housing crisis continues, a new study has revealed there could be more than 50,000 spare bed spaces in Limerick.
The data comes following an analysis of the census results by rental website Homehak.com.
Its study indicates some 17,300 households across the city and county have two or more unoccupied bedrooms. This means over one in five homes have at least two more bedrooms than the number of occupants.
This, the company says, equates to 34,300 spare bedrooms, and potentially 52,000 unoccupied bed spaces.
The information has sparked calls on homeowners in Limerick to rent to a tenant.
In doing this, they will be able to receive up to €14,000 without paying tax.
Further to this, the analysis suggests there are 4,785 homes across the city and the county with three bedrooms - none of which are being used.
Pat Drinan, the founder and chief executive of Homehak.com said: “We are calling on these homeowners to consider renting out some of these nearly 52,000 spare bedrooms, for a period of six months or more – and make considerable tax-free income for themselves in the process.
"Many homeowners simply don’t know about the tax break that is the rent-a-room relief, which lets people earn up to €14,000 per year tax-free if they rent out a room in their home to private tenants,” he said.
Mr Drinan added: “There is an urgent, bona fide need for accommodation in this country. People come from all over Ireland, and other parts of the world, to fill roles in our health or education systems, IT and pharma industries, or to study and we must do a better job at securing places for them to live.
“When they cannot find homes, these essential workers, talented labour force and students are forced to leave and move to places where they can put a roof over their heads,” added Mr Drinan.