Rental Gap: 12 Units Fit HAP Caps in September

A gap between rental costs and state support left just 12 homes affordable for housing assistance payment recipients in September, according to a new report. The Simon Communities of Ireland found that only one unit in Dublin city south and eleven other units across various regions met the strict financial caps set by local authorities for the HAP scheme.

The HAP program requires landlords to charge rents within specific limits for a household type and area before local authorities will pay the difference. In the 16 areas surveyed, 1,361 properties were available for rent at any price. This total represents a 4 percent increase since the June survey and a 63 percent rise compared to the same period last year, yet the number of units fitting the HAP criteria remained extremely low.

Eleven of the 16 monitored areas had zero properties available within HAP limits. These areas included Athlone, Cork city centre, Cork city suburbs, Limerick city centre, Sligo town, Portlaoise, and Waterford city centre. Supply within the payment limits remained concentrated in Dublin, a pattern consistent with previous quarterly findings from the charity.

Ber Grogan, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said the group had expected the recent budget to deliver a long-awaited increase to HAP limits. She noted that no change occurred, leaving recipients unable to secure housing despite having state support in place. Grogan described the increase as an immediate and practical step the government could take to reflect the current rental market.

The report, titled Locked Out of the Market, marks the third survey conducted since rental law changes took effect last March. Four areas saw a reduction in HAP-eligible properties since June: Dublin city north, Dublin city south, Dublin city centre, and Kildare. When looking at all rental properties regardless of price, five of the 16 areas also saw a decrease in supply compared to the previous report.

Sligo town recorded the lowest total rental inventory, with nine properties available across three survey dates in September. The charity excluded studio apartments from the main HAP count but noted that 25 studio units were available within the payment limits during the month. The data underscores the limited options available to tenants relying on state assistance in the private rental sector.