Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/witsanu deetuam

Flat search: Not one property available to rent for a person on rent supplement

A Simon Communities study has found that the number of rental properties on the market has dropped significantly.

OVER 90% OF homes for rent in Ireland are beyond the reach of people dependent on state housing benefits, a Simon Communities study has found.

The Locked Out of the Market IX study found that the number of rental properties on the market has dropped significantly and there is an increasing gap between rent supplement limits and property prices.

During the period that the study took place, there were no properties available to rent for a single person limit and just two properties were available for couples within the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in the 11 areas covered.

HAP is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need.

The number of properties had fallen 53% from 1,150 homes available to rent in May 2015.

Niamh Randall, national spokesperson for the Simon Community said that state housing benefits must be increased to allow people to compete in “a very challenging rental market”.

“Rent supplements and HAP limits must be increased to allow households in receipt of these payments to compete in the private rental sector,” Randall said.

She said that HAP increases of at least 4% in rent pressure zones are necessary as the majority of rents in those areas will increase by the 4% allowed.

“While discretionary uplifts are available, these are managed on a case-by-case basis, which is not an adequate policy solution. It is extremely stressful for families and individuals and resource-intensive to undertake,” Randall said.

In July 2016, then Minister for Housing Simon Coveney and then Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar raised the value of housing benefits, costing the state €15 million.

Randall said those increases have now “clearly been eroded” and that 91.5% of the properties on the market are above these limits.

In October, there were 5,298 adults and 3,194 children staying in emergency accommodation during a single week in the month. This marked a rise of 48 adults and 70 children on September.

“44% of people on the social housing waiting list are single and don’t currently have dependants in their care. In the absence of being able to afford to buy a home to private market is their only option,” she said.

The 3,286 single people stuck in emergency accommodation have little or no hope of securing a rental accommodation home this Christmas.

“Some landlords are now asking for three months of rent in advance. People on housing benefit or low incomes or those leaving homelessness cannot provide that. Often they will not be able to provide an employer reference or a previous landlord reference.”

Read: Property prices are going way up on the West Coast of America and there are tens of thousands of homeless people

More: ‘You’re giving back dignity’: Meet the man who fits dentures for the homeless outside the GPO

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.

Close
94 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds