Discretionary Payments For Large Portion of HAP Tenancies In Clare

Photo (c) Clare County Council

New figures suggest a growing need to overhaul the Housing Assistance Payment system in Clare.

Nearly a fifth of HAP tenants here are receiving discretionary top-ups to help them pay their rent, suggesting they’ve been unable to secure a home within the current limits.

 

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Under the Housing Assistance Payment, local authorities pay rents to landlords, as part of efforts to secure homes for tenants who would otherwise struggle to do so.

HAP payments are supposed to be within county-specific guidelines which – in Clare – mean a couple living together should pay rent of no more than €240 while a couple with 2 children should pay no more than €515.

But in recent years, some flexability has been introduced, allowing additional payments of up to 20%.

But now, figures released by the Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy show these discretionary payments are being made in respect of 473 tenancies, or 36% of all cases.

That’s more than the national average, and significantly higher than in some other counties.

The average discretionary amount paid here is 19%, showing that even this limit is being used to the maximum extent.

Housing support charity Threshold have previously released research showing nearly half of those who receive HAP support are paying unofficial, unsanctioned top-ups to keep their homes.