Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if property owners residing outside Ireland can allow their property to be rented under the HAP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7311/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under HAP, one of the key principles of the scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector and as with other private rental tenancies; the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) governs the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. The HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages the collection of all HAP tenants' differential rents, on behalf of the relevant local authority, and the payment of all HAP rents to landlords on behalf of tenants supported by the HAP scheme. Monthly HAP payments are made directly to landlords on behalf of tenants in respect of rent, subject to rent limits and conditions of the scheme. HAP tenants are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority. There is also a number of conditions landlords must agree to under the HAP scheme. Among these is the provision of details of nominated agents, where applicable, and also the declaration of tax compliance by supplying supporting evidence.

HAP payments can be made to a non-resident landlord, subject to compliance with the relevant tax obligations .