50 properties are available to rent for people accessing HAP in June. A report by Simon Communities of Ireland found an increase in the number of properties available for rent across the country. Only 5.4% of all available rental properties examined in this study are available at HAP rates. For comparison, in 2021, an average of 27% of all properties examined in the Locked Out of Market series were available at a HAP rate.
There was a slight increase in the number of properties available to rent across the country in June, but only 50 properties were available to rent to people accessing Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
Simon Communities of Ireland's Locked Out of the Market report examines housing availability in the private rental market on a quarterly basis. According to the latest report, 934 properties in 16 towns and cities were available for rent at any price during a three-day period in June. This is a 39% increase from 672 properties available in March.
Almost three-quarters (74%) of the properties available to rent are located in Dublin, while Portlaoise has the lowest number of homes available to rent, with just three properties available.
Among the 16 study areas, Athlone, Galway City Suburbs, Kildare, Sligo Town and Portlaoise are the most affected by the reduction in the availability of rental properties.
50 properties are available for rent under the HAP scheme's discretionary rates, an increase of 31 properties since March. HAP is a form of rental benefit payment to help low-income families. A tenant's main rent is paid directly to a landlord, while the tenant pays a different rent to their local council. Tenants have to cover their own deposit and don't have to pay council rent before they move into the house.
Of the properties within the HAP catchment area, 74% are located in Dublin and the discretionary HAP rate is 50% compared to 35% in the rest of the country.
Nine of the 16 areas have no rental properties within the HAP limits. Athlone, Cork City Centre, Galway City Centre, Co. They were Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise and Waterford City.
In June 2022, single-parent households received the same HAP rate as was available to couples. The report found 16 properties with discretionary HAP rates for singles and couples. Most of these are located in Dublin.
For families with one child, 21 properties are available at discretionary HAP rates, with an additional 12 properties available for families with two children. The majority of HAP properties for families are again in Dublin.
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme ?
HAP is a form of social housing support provided by all local authorities. Under HAP, local authorities can provide housing assistance to families with long-term housing needs, including long-term rent supplement recipients.
READ MORE: https://www.hap.ie/whatishap/