Latest news with #HAP
The Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Just 32 homes eligible for rent assistance payments in Ireland on market in June
JUST 32 PROPERTIES where tenants can receive assistance payments were made available across 16 separate areas in June, according to a survey of the housing market. Homelessness charity the Simon Communities of Ireland sought to tally the number of properties on the rental market where tenants could avail of the housing assistance payment (HAP) scheme. HAP subsidises rents on behalf of tenants by providing a portion of the cost to landlords on behalf of low-income tenants. Only 32 out of 978 properties in 16 areas met the costs within the discretionary rate for the scheme, the Simon Community said. Advertisement In Dublin, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50% on the standard rate; this is limited to 35% elsewhere in the country. The Simon Community's latest 'Locked Out of the Market' report notes large reductions in eligible properties in Dublin. Just nine properties fell within possibly eligible rent rates in north Dublin city and two properties were identified in Dublin city centre – a 44% and 50% reduction in the number of eligible homes, respectively. There were no eligible properties in Waterford city, Cork city and suburbs, Portlaoise, Limerick city, Athlone, Co Leitrim and Sligo town. Ber Grogan, head of Simon, said the results of its survey 'must act as a wake-up call' for politicians. 'We urgently need accelerated delivery of social and affordable housing, meaningful reforms to HAP rates, and a targeted strategy to prevent homelessness,' Grogan said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Number of homes accepting housing assistance payments drops 22% in three months
The number of available rental properties that accept housing assistance payments (HAP) has dropped by 22 per cent in the second quarter of the year, a new report shows. The Simon Communities of Ireland's (SCI) quarterly Locked Out of the Market report, from June, shows that just 32 properties were available to rent within the scheme. Advertisement This is a drop of nine properties, down from 41, since March. Ber Grogan, executive director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, repeated her call for an updated HAP limit. The housing assistance payment (HAP) scheme is a social housing payment made to landlords by local authorities, and tenants pay a contribution to their local authority. The report found 978 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed over three dates in June. Advertisement This is a 17 per cent reduction from the 1,178 properties available in the June 2024 Locked Out report. There were no properties available in eight of the 16 areas, including Athlone, Cork city centre, Cork city suburbs, Co Leitrim, Limerick city centre, Sligo town, Portlaoise, and Waterford city centre. Four of the 16 areas saw a reduction in the number of HAP properties available since the March 2025 report. These include Dublin city north, Dublin city centre, Dundalk and Kildare. Advertisement This lack of availability was across all household categories within standard or discretionary HAP limits. Discretionary HAP limits include homeless HAP, the increased rate of HAP for people experiencing homelessness. The supply of properties within HAP limits are predominantly in Dublin, with a total of 22 properties in Dublin. Just five of the 13 areas outside of Dublin had properties available to rent within HAP limits. Advertisement These included Dundalk, Galway city suburbs, Galway city centre, Kildare and Limerick city suburbs. In Dublin, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50 per cent on the standard rate, but this is limited to 35 per cent elsewhere in the country. Nathan, a Cork Simon service user, said: 'Most of the time you ring a place, it's gone. You get fed up of every day doing it and then you just give up for a while, depressed out of me head. 'You can't get out of it (homelessness). I don't seem to see a way anyway. And it's not for want of trying. A bed, a bathroom and a kitchen. Basics. Oh, I'd love it. Advertisement 'Come and go as you please.' Sligo town and Portlaoise had the lowest number of properties available to rent, with just seven and two properties available in each area, respectively, across the three days. Of the 16 areas, 10 saw a reduction in the number of properties available to rent, including Cork, and Dublin, Dundalk and Kildare. Four of the 16 areas saw an increase in the number of properties available to rent, including Athlone, Galway city, Limerick city and Sligo town. Ms Grogan said the findings of the report must act as a 'wake-up call for policymakers'. 'Do they care that the rental sector continues to fail those reliant on HAP? Simon certainly cares,' he said. 'With only 32 properties available under HAP across 16 areas and entire counties without a single option, people entitled to housing support are being pushed further into homelessness and essentially, left behind. 'The rental market is failing those most in need. 'We urgently need accelerated delivery of social and affordable housing, meaningful reforms to HAP rates, and a targeted strategy to prevent homelessness. 'We must ensure that hope is restored for those people who are locked out of access to this accommodation option. 'The Simon Communities of Ireland has been calling for updated HAP limits for many years. 'We welcomed the ombudsman's report on HAP and will continue to call for reform. Budget 2026 will give the opportunity to address this cause of homelessness before our next Locked Out of the Market report.' Meanwhile, the figures show that there were four properties available to single person/couple households through a standard HAP rate. These four properties were located in north Dublin, Dublin city centre, Galway city and Kildare. There were an additional 12 properties available for single person/couple households within discretionary HAP limits. There were no properties available to couple/one parent households with one child through a standard HAP rate. There was one property available to couple/one parent households with two children through a standard HAP rate. This property was in Limerick city suburbs. There were five properties available through discretionary HAP rates, and an additional 10 that overlapped with properties available to families with one child. The five unique properties were in Dublin city centre, Dundalk and Kildare. Ms Grogan said: 'It's particularly concerning given that one parent families are over-represented in the thousands of families and children experiencing homelessness. 'Does anybody care that nearly 5,000 children are experiencing homelessness? Simon cares.'
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Number of rental properties accepting HAP drops by 22pc in three months
The number of available rental properties that accept Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) has dropped by 22pc in the second quarter of the year, a new report shows.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Number of properties available under HAP scheme fell last month
The number of properties that were available to rent within the discretionary rate of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme last month fell to 32. It is a decrease of nine properties (-22%) since March, according to the latest Simon Communities quarterly Locked Out of the Market report. Over three dates last month, 16 areas were surveyed which showed that 978 properties were available to rent at any price. That is a 17% fall from 1,178 properties that were available in June 2024. Last month, there were no properties available in eight out of 16 areas. These included Athlone, Cork city centre, Cork city suburbs, Co Leitrim, Limerick city centre, Sligo town, Portlaoise, and Waterford city centre. Four of the 16 areas saw a reduction in the number of HAP properties available compared to March. The four areas in question were Dublin city north (seven properties), Dublin city centre (two properties), Dundalk (one property), and Kildare (one property). Sligo Town and Portlaoise had the lowest number of properties available to rent, with just seven and two properties available in each area, respectively. As seen in previous Locked Out of the Market reports, the supply of properties within HAP limits were predominantly in Dublin. Last month, 22 of the total 32 HAP properties were in the capital. Just five of the 13 study areas outside of Dublin had properties available to rent within HAP limits. These included Dundalk (three properties), Galway city suburbs (one property), Galway city centre (one property), Kildare (four properties), and Limerick city suburbs (one property). The report considers the availability of properties within both the standard and discretionary HAP limits in 16 areas for household categories including single people, couples, couple/one parent families with one child and couples or one parent families with two children. There was a lack of availability across all household categories within standard or discretionary HAP limits. Discretionary HAP limits includes 'homeless HAP', which is the increased rate of HAP for people experiencing homelessness. In Dublin, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50% on the standard rate; this is limited to 35% elsewhere in the country. Last month, there were no properties available to couples or one parent households with one child through a standard HAP rate. There were 10 properties available through discretionary HAP rates. One property was available in a suburb of Limerick city to couples or one-parent households with two children through a standard HAP rate last month. There were five properties available for people in this category through discretionary HAP rates, and an additional 10 that overlapped with properties available to families with one child. Executive Director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, Ber Grogan, said the over representation of one-parent families in the thousands of families and children experiencing homelessness was particularly concerning. She said the latest findings must act as "a wake-up call" for policymakers. The report features Cork Simon service user Nathan who said he was "fed up" with trying to secure a rental property. "Most of the time you ring a place, it's gone. You get fed up of every day doing it and then you just give up for a while; depressed out of me head. You can't get out of it [homelessness]. "I don't seem to see a way anyway. And it's not for want of trying. A bed, a bathroom and a kitchen. Basics. Oh, I'd love it. Come and go as you please," he said.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Rise in Kerry people seeking advice on ‘crippling financial' pressure
MABS say its pre-Budget submission highlights a deepening crisis among low-income and vulnerable households that is driven by unsustainable mortgage repayments, soaring rental costs, and crippling utility arrears. Among the main Kerry concerns flagged by MABS is mortgage distress, utility bills, and unaffordable rents. There is an average of 190 new clients every month in the region reflecting the hundreds of households facing choices between heating, rent, food or mortgage payments. MABS say that temporary arrangements for struggling mortgage holders are proving unsustainable as interest rate increases were passed on rapidly, while rate decreases have not been. Many mortgages, now held by non-bank entities, carry higher interest and fewer protections. MABS revealed it has seen a sharp rise in utility arrears, with some bills reaching up to €9,000. 'We cannot build sustainable repayment plans when providers are asking for lump sums that our clients simply don't have,' said Ursula Collins, Regional Manager of South Munster MABS. She added that the winding down of hardship funds and the uncertainty around energy credits has left many vulnerable households at serious risk of disconnection. In terms of rent, MABS say clients are being asked to pay rents that exceed their income—even when receiving support such as HAP. In one recent case, a household earning €1,200 per month was being asked to pay €1,300 in rent. Ahead of the autumn budget, MABS Kerry's Service Delivery Manager, Eamonn Foley, urged policymakers to implement practical, evidence-based recommendations. 'These are outlined in our pre-budget submission to prevent deeper hardship and long-term social costs. We want to ensure Budget 2026 is people-centred and will help vulnerable households desperately in need of support,' Mr Foley said. Among the listed budget recommendations will be a social energy tariff, overhaul of HAP and Rent Supplement systems, reform of the Mortgage to Rent scheme. MABS will also request stronger protections against utility disconnection, wider access to hardship funds and emergency supports, and the introduction of a cross-government financial inclusion strategy.
