Social Welfare Update: Rent Supplement 14th November 2012

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress caused to applicants for local authority housing who are forced to rely on rent support in respect of private housing and are subject to a maximum rent which is applicable throughout County Kildare notwithstanding the market variations for such rent and in view of the fact that in certain parts of the county rent levels vary dramatically arising from the demand; if she accepts the existence of such variations and the need to adjust the levels of rent support in accordance with the actual market situations wherein some cases rent levels are higher than in many parts of Dublin city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan.

Question No: 142 Ref No: 49859-12

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 13th November, 2012.

R E P L Y

There are currently approximately 89,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012. The aim of rent supplement is to provide short term income assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.

The maximum rent limits were set after an analysis of the most up to date market data available. For all counties, major urban population centres were tested as part of the rents review to ensure that rent supplement applicants can access temporary housing arrangements whilst seeking employment opportunities. The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market.
Analysis shows that for County Kildare, there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients.   The number of rental properties available in North Kildare is somewhat lower than the numbers available in the rest of the county and therefore impacts on the number of accommodation units available for rent supplement. The purpose of the rent limit review was to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide rent supplement tenants with access to all housing in all areas.

Latest figures show that there are approximately 4,300 rent supplement recipients in County Kildare. When compared with Census 2011 household data this shows that 36% of properties rented from private landlords are in receipt of rent supplement in County Kildare showing that it is possible to secure accommodation within the rent limits.
 

The Department will continue to monitor the impact of the rent limits throughout the country.

ENDS