John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The new rent limits were introduced in January 2012 and are applicable to all new rent supplement applicants and to existing recipients upon review. Rent limits were previously adjusted effective from June 2010. The purpose of the review is to ensure availability of accommodation and supplement tenancies, but not to provide rent supplements to tenants with access to housing in all areas. Approximately 23,000 rent supplement claims have been awarded this year up to 15 June. Those claims include new claims, change of address and change of landlord cases. Where a claim is under review, which was Deputy Kevin Humphreys's point, and the rent is above the new maximum limit, the customer is being asked to contact the landlord to renegotiate the rent. Where a landlord does not agree to reduce the rent to the new rates, departmental officials will discuss options open to the tenant, up to and including seeking alternative accommodation. Departmental guidelines to officers administering the rent supplement state that where negotiation with the landlord fails, the then rent supplement may continue to be paid for a period of up to 13 weeks at a higher rate. However, once the lease has expired the tenant will be expected - it is important to put this on the record-----

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