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The Accommodation Recognition Payment

What is the Accommodation Recognition Payment?

The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is an €800 monthly, tax-free payment from the government to thank those who provide accommodation in private homes or properties to people arriving from Ukraine under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.​ Read all about it here.

How to Apply for ARP

The application process is simple and takes about 15 minutes. You can apply online here once your guest moves in. For a paper version, contact the ARP office on 0818 70 80 90 or by email at ARP@welfare.ie

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You will need:

  1. Your PPS number

  2. MyGovID (create one here if needed)

  3. PPS number(s) for your guest(s)

  4. Your bank account details (IBAN)

 

You may need proof of address for your guest(s). They may need to register their new address with Intreo before the payment is approved. To do this they will need a letter from you or the matching organisation (HIH / IOM / Irish Red Cross) and a utility bill for the new address. 

Payment Details

  • Amount: €800 per property, per month.There must be at least 1 person being hosted on the last day of the month for which payment is due. 

  • Timing: Paid directly to your account, one month in arrears, on the second Tuesday of the month. There must be at least 1 person being hosted on the last day of the month for which payment is due.

  • Tax-Free: Yes

  • Means-Tested: No

  • Limit: One payment per Eircode, regardless of the number of guests; up to 15 properties per application

  • Utility Contributions: Do not affect the payment

Ending the Payment

If your guest leaves before six months, you will not be penalised as long as the intent to host for six months was clear. 

If your guest moves out you must cancel your payment by contacting the ARP section with your PPS number.

Top 5 Things You Need to Know

  1. No tenancy/rental agreement can be in place.

  2. Hosting under ARP is not a landlord/tenant relationship.

  3. Accommodation must be in the Republic of Ireland.

  4. Accommodation must meet certain standards (listed here).

  5. Accommodation must be provided for at least 6 months.

Contact Information

HIH has no involvement with the ARP scheme; it is administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

For queries or to check the status of your application please contact DSP directly on 0818 708 090 or email ARP@welfare.ie.

Additional Information For Hosts & FAQ

​While the ARP is a valuable (crucial!) support mechanism for Hosts and Guests it is essential to approach hosting with awareness and diligence to avoid legal or financial pitfalls.

For a detailed guide, please click here.

  • We made our match independently, can I claim the ARP?
    Yes. No matter how you came to host or be hosted, everyone who is hosting a person from Ukraine under the EU Temporary Protection Directive is eligible to receive the ARP.
  • I’m hosting a displaced person who’s not Ukrainian. Can I claim the ARP?
    No. Currently, the ARP is only available to those hosting Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. If you’re hosting refugees from elsewhere and would like to join our campaign to extend the ARP, please fill in this form
  • Can / Should I ask my guest(s) to ‘top up’ the ARP to meet market rent?
    No. Apart from utility costs, the only money a host should receive is the €800 ARP from the Department of Social Protection. Receiving additional payments can blur the lines between hosting and renting, leading to potential legal complications. While this setup might appear attractive and it's ultimately up to hosts and guests to decide on their own terms, it's important to understand the difference between a rental tenancy and a hosting arrangement, as well as the possible implications that come with it. See next question…
  • Licence Agreement v Tenancy. What’s the difference?
    When someone rents a self-contained place and pays the owner for the right to live there, that's called a tenancy. These tenancies are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004, and regulated by the Residential Tenancies Board. However, if someone lives with the property owner, it's a different story. These situations, often called ‘lodger’ or ‘digs’ arrangements, are known as ‘licences’ instead of tenancies. This means they don’t have the same tenancy rights under the Act.
  • We haven’t signed a Tenancy or Licence agreement. Does it matter?
    Yes. It's important to have a clear agreement. It's also important for both hosts and guests to know that a licence or tenancy can still happen even if no formal lease or licence has been signed. Whether it's considered a lease or a licence depends on the specific details of each situation. We recommend that everyone signs a licence agreement and the Home Sharing Agreement, to set the terms and conditions of the arrangement out clearly from the beginning. It’s never too late to put an agreement in place. Download our Home Sharing Agreement.
  • Can I have a rental agreement with my Guest(s) under the ARP scheme?
    No. ARP is not payable if there's a rental agreement in place with the guest in your home or property.
  • I’m receiving ARP and a top up payment to cover the rent. What’s the story?
    Concurrently receiving both ARP and rental payments from guests may lead to complications with regulatory bodies such as the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), Revenue, and the Department of Social Protection, particularly for self-contained properties. We’ve consulted the experts, and here are some possible implications: Residential Tenancies Board (RTB): Might consider the arrangement a tenancy, leading to obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act. More info here. Revenue: Rental income is taxable. Failing to declare it while receiving ARP could lead to tax implications. There’s a useful article on this, here. Department of Social Protection: Concurrently receiving ARP and rental payments could be viewed as fraud, risking suspension of benefits or legal action. Other than a contribution to utility costs, the only money a host should receive is the €800 financial contribution from the Department of Social Protection.
  • My host is charging me extra money. What should I do?
    If you pay additional payments extending beyond utility bills within the ARP scheme, this does not establish a landlord-tenant relationship in a shared property. It does not automatically afford you the same legal protections as a traditional tenancy agreement. Speak to your host first. If issues persist, contact the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) or reach out to us for support at 1800 85 27 20 / hello@helpingirishhosts.com.
  • Will I receive a stipend or tax incentive from the government for hosting guests?
    As of March 31, the answer is no. Opening your home is a charitable act that you are undertaking as a means to support a fellow human. We are lobbying government and keeping up to date on those arrangements and will share them here as soon as we know.
  • Can I charge rent or money for utilities?
    As of March 31, we are advising against making any kind of financial arrangement between hosts and guests. We are developing policies and procedures around this as part of our incorporation and will share them when ready.
  • Can my guests apply for housing benefits?
    Yes. We’ve had a small number of guests already move into rental accommodation, contact your local Intreo Office for more information on rental allowance.
  • Can / Should I ask my guest(s) to cover the cost of utility bills?
    Yes. We recommend that all guests contribute towards their own utility costs. Remember that your guests may not be aware of the rising costs of energy in Ireland. Talk to them openly and honestly about sharing costs and bills and detail their responsibilities in your licence/home sharing agreement. We have created a Utility bills guide that may help your guest.
  • Licence Agreement v Renting. What’s the difference?
    Tenancy: Rights include protections against eviction and standards of accommodation. When you enter into an agreement and pay rent in a self-contained property, you gain certain tenancy rights, including protections against eviction and the right to accommodation which meets certain standards. To learn more about tenancy rights, click here. Licence: When availing of ARP supported accommodation and where you live with your host, whether through HIH, The Irish Red Cross, IOM or privately, you enter into a licence agreement with the host. This means, you do not gain the same tenancy rights through this licence agreement. It's important for both hosts and guests to understand that a licence or tenancy can exist even without a formal agreement, depending on the specific situation.
  • I’m a Ukrainian BOTP. What do I need to know about the ARP?
    When considering living in host accommodation under the ARP scheme, it's crucial to understand that the ARP is a recognition payment for hosts. It's not a rental contribution. It’s not a rent supplement. It’s not a stipend. It does not automatically afford you the same legal protections as a traditional tenancy agreement. Understand the terms of your licence agreement and the limitations on tenancy rights. Here’s basic info that we hope helps: Tenancy: Rights include protections against eviction and standards of accommodation. When you enter into an agreement and pay rent in a self-contained property, you gain certain tenancy rights, including protections against eviction and the right to accommodation which meets certain standards. To learn more about tenancy rights, click here Licence: When availing of ARP supported accommodation and where you live with your host, whether through HIH, The Irish Red Cross, IOM or privately, you enter into a licence agreement with the host. This means, you do not gain the same tenancy rights through this licence agreement.
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