Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

677. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities are enticing estate agents into making properties available for homeless persons by offering cash payments on top of the rental income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43251/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that the question refers to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to households in an area of their choice. Individuals with a housing need, who in the past were reluctant to avail of full time work as they would lose their Rent Supplement support, can now move to HAP and avail of full-time work and retain their housing support, with an adjustment in their differential rent. At the end of Quarter 2 2018, over 37,750 tenancies were being supported by the HAP scheme, including over 9,000 additional households in 2018.

The Homeless HAP Place Finder Service is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies. The Place Finder Service has been successfully utilised by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) across the Dublin local authorities since February 2015, with more than 3,000 households being supported by the Homeless HAP scheme at end Q2 2018.

The Place Finder Service will assist households in emergency accommodation primarily by providing access to deposits and advance rental payments. These elements are the core financial supports now being made available nationally. Local authorities have the option to enhance this service, if required, through their homeless services by assigning dedicated staff to provide assistance in:

- seeking out potential properties suitable for households currently identified as homeless;

- liaising with specific households to establish their specific needs;

- establishing relationships with local property agents and landlords; and,

- supporting those homeless households to exit emergency accommodation and secure a tenancy.

Local authorities, including the DRHE, are promoting the scheme locally, and engaging with letting agents and landlords who might be interested in entering into a HAP tenancy.

Where a local authority decides to enhance the Homeless HAP service beyond the financial assistance provided by my Department, the arrangement, management and oversight of the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service, including any contractual matters that may arise with relevant third parties, is a matter for each individual local authority.

The DRHE, in conjunction with my Department, has put in place an incentive for estate agents whereby, should they make suitable properties exclusively available to homeless families through the Place Finders team within the DRHE, and not advertise them on letting websites or elsewhere or hold reserved viewings for homeless families in emergency accommodation, then, after five properties have been secured in this manner, a payment of €500 per property plus VAT will be made to the agent, following the submission of the appropriate paperwork. A further €500 per property can be made for the sixth and any subsequent properties secured in this manner, provided the agent formally invoices the DRHE for each payment.

The DRHE, and local authorities more generally, do not make payments in cash.