The Housing Agency accepts a current signed passport, passport card or travel document, an EU/EEA driving licence with a photo (Irish provisional accepted) or an EU national identity card. The Public Services Card is not on that list. Circle also accepts a birth certificate for children.
Documents checklist for a cost rental or affordable purchase application
Everyone in the household needs proof of ID, children included. Everyone aged 18 or over needs the income, bank and reference documents. Most of these are downloadable in ten minutes if you know where to look; two of them (Statement of Liability, employer letter) can take a week. Start with those.
Do these two today
Request your Statement of Liability in Revenue myAccount and ask HR for an employer letter. Everything else is instant.
Proof of ID
Everyone in the household, children too
Current and valid
Proof of address
Every adult
Dated within the last 3 months
A utility bill (if it is the first bill, add a second proof), a letter from a bank, insurer, credit union or other regulated financial institution in Ireland, or a letter from a government department. The name and address must match the application.
Proof of PPS number
Every adult
Any date
Any Revenue or Social Protection letter, or a payslip, showing the number.
Employment Detail Summary (EDS)
Every earner
Most recent full tax year (2025)
Revenue myAccount → PAYE Services → Review your tax → select last year → Employment Detail Summary → Create document. Replaces the old P60.
Statement of Liability (SoL)
Every earner
Most recent full tax year
myAccount → PAYE Services → Review your tax → last year → Request Statement of Liability. Takes up to 5 working days the first time, so do it now. Self-employed: Form 11 acknowledgement and Notice of Assessment instead.
Payslips
Every employee
Last 3 months
From your employer or payroll portal. The Housing Agency list asks for the last three months. Circle asks for the last 12 months, so read the advert.
Employer reference
Every employee
Dated within the last 6 weeks
On headed paper: start date, role, contract type (permanent or fixed-term), gross salary, whether you are on probation. Ask HR now, it can take a week.
Bank statements
Every adult
Dated within the last 6 weeks
Every current account, including Revolut and N26. PDFs from the app are fine. The Housing Agency asks for a statement dated within the previous 6 weeks. Some providers want a longer run with your rent payments highlighted: Oaklee asks for three months, Circle for six (a year if self-employed).
Landlord reference and proof of rent
Every adult
Dated within the last 6 weeks
Letter from your landlord or agent confirming tenancy dates, rent and payment record, plus your RTB registration number if you have it. Never rented? You may be asked for a character reference and evidence of savings or of paying towards household costs instead.
Social welfare statement
Anyone on a payment
Last 12 months
Statement of payments from MyWelfare.ie → My Payments → Request statement.
Proof of residency in Ireland
Every applicant
Dated within the last 12 months
One document showing you live in the Republic of Ireland: Employment Detail Summary (formerly P60), a Statement of Payments/Benefits from the Department of Social Protection, your tenancy agreement, bank statements for at least 3 months showing day-to-day spending or utility direct debits, or a letter from your current employer with your name, address and start date. Circle states it does not accept an IRP card as proof of residency. Buying a starter home is different: Dublin City and South Dublin councils ask non-EU/EEA applicants for a copy of the Irish Residence Permit showing the stamp.
Pension contribution proof
If you deduct pension
Recent
Payslip showing the deduction, or a pension provider statement. This is what brings a borderline household under the net limit, so evidence it.
Mortgage approval in principle
Affordable purchase only
Valid on the date you apply
From a bank or the Local Authority Home Loan. Not needed for cost rental.
Help to Buy approval
Affordable purchase, first-time buyers
Current tax year
myAccount → Help to Buy → apply. Get the application number and maximum relief amount.
The base is the Housing Agency list; each provider adds its own on the scheme page, and the notes above show where Oaklee, Circle and the Dublin councils differ. Check the provider’s list once the scheme is announced. Checked against the Housing Agency Cost Rental FAQ and Citizens Information (page edited 18 March 2026) on 2026-09-24.
Check your net income first so you know the folder is worth building.
Sources
- Housing Agency: Cost Rental FAQ (documents and acceptable proof)
- Citizens Information: Cost rental housing (page edited 18 March 2026)
- Oaklee: Cost Rental homes (documents, 72-hour upload)
- Circle VHA: Cost Rental (documents, 48-hour upload)
- Dublin City Council: Starter Home Purchase Scheme FAQ (right to reside, IRP)
- South Dublin County Council: Starter Homes Programme (right to reside, IRP)
Questions people ask
How long do I get to upload documents?
Some providers want documents with the application; others, including the LDA and Oaklee, run the lottery first and give winners 72 hours to upload everything (Circle gives 48). Miss that window and your place goes to the next person. Have the folder ready before the scheme opens.
What format do documents need to be in?
PDF or clear photos on most portals, usually up to 5 or 10 MB per file. Name each file with the person and document (“Anna_EDS_2025.pdf”) and merge multi-page statements into one PDF.
Why do they want a Statement of Liability if I already have the Employment Detail Summary?
The Employment Detail Summary shows what your employers reported. The Statement of Liability is Revenue’s final calculation for the year including credits, other income and pension relief, which is what providers use to confirm net income.