€3,600–€6,400 / yr · Top up your pension by €3,600–€6,400 a year. From your house.
Most retired homeowners have at least one room or garage they don't use. Renting it for storage could add an estimated €150–€270 a month to your pension — paid into your bank weekly via Stripe. No app required: we'll call you.
Prefer to talk? Phone-first signup is available — see the box below.
Start your listing
Create your free Packhood account and list the space you already have. Free to list, 5% commission per booking, weekly Stripe payouts. No ID check until your first booking.
Call us. We'll set up your listing on the phone.
You don't need to use an app or fill in forms. Call the number below and a member of the Packhood team will write your listing with you, take photos by video call, and have you live the same day.
+353 1 525 3700Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:30 IST
- We'll talk you through the Host Guarantee and the tax rules — no jargon.
- Payouts go to your normal bank account by direct transfer on a weekly cycle via Stripe.
- You can pause or stop hosting any time, on the phone or by email — no contract.
Why Packhood works for retirees
Phone-first signup
Don't want to wrestle with an app? Call us on +353 1 525 3700 (IE) or +44 20 4525 3700 (UK), Mon–Fri 09:00–17:30. We'll set up your listing on the call, take your photos by video, and have you live the same day.
Generous-print, simple dashboard
Larger fonts, clearer buttons, fewer clicks. The dashboard shows just what you need: messages, bookings and the next payout date. No technical jargon.
Host Guarantee, named contact
Every booking carries the Host Guarantee — up to €300 in Ireland and the Netherlands, £260 in the UK. The renter pays the first month by card, held by Stripe until you accept the booking.
Honest about tax
In the UK the first £1,000/yr is tax-free (Property Allowance); in Ireland storage income is taxable (Case IV) — Rent-a-Room does not cover storage. Hosting income does not affect the State Pension or Contributory Pension entitlements.
Storage income in Ireland is taxable
Storage income is Schedule D Case IV/V — the Rent-a-Room relief does not cover storage (it is for residential lodgers, not goods). Most single-listing hosts stay under the €5,000 non-PAYE threshold (Form 12). Keep records.
Source: Revenue.ie ↗ · Packhood is not a tax adviser; consult an accountant if you approach the threshold.
What Packhood guarantees
Renters never live in your house
Storage hosts rent space for items only — boxes, furniture, business inventory. Renters drop in by appointment during your access hours; they never stay overnight.
You approve every booking
Renters pay by card through Stripe, with the first month held until you accept — so there are no anonymous, unpaid bookings. Your address is shared only after you accept.
Cancel any time
Pause your listing in the dashboard or with one phone call. Active bookings continue to their agreed end date; new bookings stop the moment you pause.
FAQ
Will hosting affect my State Pension or means-tested benefits?
Storage income is taxable (in Ireland it is Case IV income — Rent-a-Room relief does not cover storage; in the UK the first £1,000/yr is covered by the Property Allowance, then declared via Self Assessment). Contributory pensions are not means-tested, but means-tested supports (e.g. Living Alone Allowance, Pension Credit) may assess the income — check with the Department of Social Protection (IE) or DWP (UK).
Do I need a smartphone?
No. Phone-first signup is supported throughout: list, accept bookings, message renters and request payouts all by phone. Most retired hosts use a mix — phone for setup, dashboard for day-to-day.
What if I don't feel comfortable with a renter?
You always have the right to refuse a booking before payment is captured. Renters never see your address until you accept. If something feels off, decline; we'll find another match.
Can a family member help manage the listing?
Yes — you can authorise a "trusted carer" account that has dashboard access but no payment authority. Useful if you'd rather a son, daughter or care worker handle messages.
How are payouts made?
Direct bank transfer (SEPA in IE, Faster Payments in UK) on a weekly payout cycle via Stripe, into the account you give us at signup. No paperwork, no chasing.
Ready to turn empty space into income?
Most hosts publish their first listing in under 15 minutes.