Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.

While there is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent required by the landlord, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and that households in HAP are in a position to meet the rental costs involved.

Tenants in the HAP scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. Where a person has a change of circumstances, such as a loss of income, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can reassess those tenants and adjust their differential rent accordingly.

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. The HAP SSC follows a clear communication policy if rental arrears issues arise. This policy includes regular and early written communication with tenants, landlords and the relevant local authority.

The approach taken by the HAP SSC has been very effective with minimal levels of rent arrears arising for HAP tenants. At end Q3 2023, the scheme had a 99% differential rent collection rate with minimal arrears arising for tenants or local authorities. Therefore, only a very small number of tenants have fallen into difficulty with their differential rent.

Since July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons’ households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case-by-case basis and also the level of discretion applied in each case.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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616. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason local authority tenants are allowed to rent a room in their home, but those in accommodation owned by the approved housing bodies are not allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11791/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2023, the Government agreed to extend the Rent-a-Room Relief scheme disregard to social welfare recipients, extend the disregard into medical card criteria, and permit local authority tenancies access the scheme.

My Department provided for the extension of the scheme to local authority tenancies by way of a supplementary action in Housing for All, and worked closely with the City and County Management Association (CCMA) to introduce the 'Room for a Student - Local Authority Scheme'. The scheme came into operation on 1 December 2023, and it allows local authority tenants to rent out room in their homes to eligible third level students.

My Department also engaged with the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) sector to facilitate access to the scheme to their tenants. AHBs are independent, not-for-profit organisations providing affordable rented housing for people who cannot provide housing from their own means and for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. AHBs also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members/tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.

While there is nothing in legislation that prevents AHB tenants from renting rooms to other individuals under licence, in order to ensure a consistent and equitable approach, broad agreed principles are required to underpin any such scheme. My Department continues to engage with the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) in relation to the rent-a-room scheme and any challenges or concerns the sector may have in adapting the local authority scheme to their needs.