Housing Standard for the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme

A claimant under the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme* must ensure the eligible dwelling is safe and meets certain minimum standards. Where the dwelling is a room in the claimant’s home, such properties would not normally be subject to a housing standard.

A standard has been introduced for the purposes of this Scheme so as to ensure the safety of all concerned. This standard will apply even where the dwelling is a room in the claimant’s home.

The guidelines below will help you determine if the accommodation you are providing meets those standards and if you meet qualifying criteria for the monthly Recognition Payment of €800.

NOTE: All applicants for the Recognition Payment are reminded that they must declare that the accommodation they are offering complies with the standards set down in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Part 2) (Eligible Dwelling Standards) Regulations 2022.

Please be advised that this explanatory note does not purport to be a legal interpretation of those Regulations and that it is provided by way of guidance and assistance only.

• the eligible dwelling must be generally in a good state of repair, internally and externally, with roof, windows, floors, ceilings, walls, stairs, doors, fascia, tiles, gutters, down pipes, fittings, furnishings, gardens and common areas maintained in good condition and repair
• where a window has an opening section through which a person may fall, and the bottom of the opening section is more than 1400mm above external ground level (usually first floor and above), suitable safety restrictors are required to prevent persons from falling, especially young children
• safety restrictors should operate so that they limit the initial movement of an opening section to not more than 100mm. Lockable restrictors, which can only be released by removable keys or other tools, should not be fitted to window opening sections required for escape or rescue purposes (typically windows in bedrooms and inner rooms in dwelling houses)

Safety restrictors should operate so that they:

• limit the initial movement of an opening section so that a clear opening of not more than 100mm is achieved at any point
• are releasable only by manipulation not normally possible by a child under 5 years
• are readily identifiable and capable of being released by an adult (without prior instruction) on windows suitable as a means of escape in case of fire
• re-engage automatically when an opening section is returned to the initial restricted opening position, or to a closed position (whether latched or not); and
• are not lockable by a removable key or other device on windows suitable as a means of escape or rescue in case of fire

Safety restrictors should be designed specifically to operate on the types of window on which they are to be installed. Safety restrictors can be purchased in a local hardware store.

The eligible dwelling must be free from pests and vermin.

The eligible dwelling where the temporary protection beneficiary is being accommodated must have a toilet, with a dedicated wash hand basin adjacent, and a bath or shower. These facilities must:

• be maintained in a safe condition and good working order
• have safe and effective means of drainage; and
• have a continuous supply of cold water and a facility for the piped supply of hot water to wash-hand basins, showers and baths

The room(s) containing the toilet and / or fixed bath or shower must be in a room separated from the other rooms in the house by a wall and door, and must contain adequate ventilation.

• every room used in the dwelling (other than a bathroom, toilets and small kitchens) must have effective heating
• every such room must, where necessary, contain suitable and adequate facilities for the safe and effective removal of fumes and other products of combustion to the external air where a heat producing appliance is used
• in dwellings where there is an open fire, stove, oil boiler, gas heating or a gas cooker a carbon monoxide alarm is required in the room where the appliance is located and either inside each bedroom or within 5m (16ft) of the bedroom door. The alarms should be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions and each should be in working order and be within its ‘end-of-life’ indicator. They can be mains wired or 10-year battery operated

The dwelling must have adequate facilities for the hygienic storage, preparation and cooking of food. There must be:

• adequate cooking facilities, including an oven
• suitable facilities for the effective and safe removal of fumes
• a fridge or fridge-freezer
• a sink, with a piped supply of cold water that is safe to drink, taken direct from the service pipe supplying water from the public main or other source to the building containing the house and a facility for the piped supply of hot water, and an adequate draining area
• a washing machine, or access to a communal washing machine facility; and
• where the house does not contain a garden or yard for the exclusive use of that house, a dryer (vented or recirculation type) or access to a communal dryer facility

All of these facilities must be maintained in a safe condition and in good working order and good repair.

• every room being made available to the temporary protection beneficiary as a habitable room must have adequate ventilation
• adequate ventilation shall be provided for the removal of water vapour from every kitchen and bathroom
• all means of ventilation must be maintained in good repair and working order

• the hall, stairs and landing and every room being made available to the temporary protection beneficiary, must have adequate lighting

• all accommodation provided under this scheme must have a suitably located smoke alarm in the ground floor hallway (or room in open plan design) and in each upper floor landing of the stairway
• it must be in working order and within its ‘end-of-life’ indicator
• the alarms must be either mains-wired with battery back-up or 10-year self-contained battery operated
• they must carry the CE mark and comply with I.S. EN 14604:2005 Smoke Alarm Devices and be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions
• there must be a fire blanket in the house located in the kitchen. The fire blanket must be securely wall mounted in a prominent location and provided with clear instructions on its use. The fire blanket should be a light duty blanket, complying with IS 415:1988, EN 1869:1997 or IS EN 1869:2019. Preferably, the fire blanket should be 1.2m by 1.8m in size
• in multi-unit buildings, a flat or apartment must have an evacuation plan displayed

In multi-unit buildings, a flat or apartment must have a notice displayed, containing the following information:

• the action to be taken in the event of fire, discovering a fire or hearing the fire alarm
• the procedure for calling the fire brigade; and
• a floor plan of the building providing the following information:

- the location of all relevant escape routes from the building

- the location of fire alarm call points (break glass units) and fire alarm control panel

- the location of firefighting equipment in the building

• in each multi-unit building there must be a suitable common fire detection and alarm system in the building. The system should consist of a control panel with suitably located smoke detectors and sounders at each level of the stairway and in each circulation space and a heat detector and sounder inside each unit within the building, located in the entrance hallway, where provided. There must be a manual fire alarm call point (break glass unit) at each floor level and at each final exit from the building
• the common areas in a multi-unit building must have an emergency lighting system installed and maintained in accordance with I.S 3217:2013. Emergency lighting should be provided throughout all common escape routes, that is, corridors, lobbies and stairways

• the accommodation provided must have access to suitable and adequate pest and vermin proof refuse storage facilities, including recycling

• oil heating systems must work effectively and safely
• gas heating systems must have been serviced within the last year
• electrical installations, including the distribution box/fuse box, must be in good repair and safe working order

If the answer is NO to any of the above questions, it is likely that the accommodation does not comply with the accommodation standards set out under SI 377 2022 in relation to applications made under the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme.

The required works should be undertaken in order to bring the accommodation up to the required standard before an application is submitted under the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme.

• Also referred to under the legislative title of the Financial Contribution for Hosting Temporary Protection Beneficiaries Scheme.