Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1735. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason housing associations, such as an association (details supplied), are not charging tenants a differential rent. [54921/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Where social housing units are provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) under the Capital Assistance Scheme, my Department’s guidance states that rents should be at levels which are reasonable having regard to tenant’s income and the outlay of the AHB on the accommodation.

In the past where social tenants in such properties considered that the rent was unaffordable they could apply for Rent Supplement from the Department of Social Protection to help them meet the costs of their accommodation. However, it is currently my Department’s policy that any new tenants who find themselves in this position should be catered for under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). The Department of Social Protection will assess nominated households for Rent Supplement, and agree the likely level of support with the household moving directly on to RAS with the Rent Supplement rate being paid to the AHB via RAS.

Accordingly the tenant referred to in the question should pursue with Westmeath County Council the matter of moving to RAS.