This is probably following on from the recent campaign the Revenue have been doing to encourage people to claim their tax credits. They now have a lot of Rent1 form in with relevant details of landlords who have not declared the income. They do not know that yours is under the Rent a Room exemption until you tell them of which you are obliged to do.
Method in their madness!! They now have a lot of info on landlords. Certain tax districts pulled a lot of Rent1 where they identified the landlord as the parents, still awaiting word as to whether they will treat this as rent for tax relief purposes. Stamp duty clawback is the other one they are looking at.