Clare tenants won't benefit from increases in the Housing Assist Payment announced as part of Government rent reforms.
Among the measures announced under the 'New Deal for Tenants' yesterday are two year rent freezes for tenants and tax incentives for landlords who take social welfare recipients.
It'll also be harder to force tenants to leave when property owners want to sell or allow family members to use the premises – in future, landlords will have to supply a 'statutory declaration' and could be fined if caught out in a lie.
But while the plan allows for increases in the Housing Assits Payment in major urban centres, there won't be any increase for tenants in Clare, Limerick or North Tipperary.
General Manager of Midwest Simon, Jackie Bonfield is giving a guarded welcome to the new measures but she says her organisation is puzzled as to why the region has lost out.
