Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a private landlord can be compelled to provide proof of ownership to a local authority when their tenant is applying for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46550/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. Under HAP, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. The tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended. HAP supported tenancies are afforded the same protections as all private rented tenancies.

A landlord must provide proof of ownership of a property in order to receive a payment under the HAP scheme for that property. This is required in one of the documents listed in the application checklist on the HAP Application Form. The HAP application form comes in two parts, Section A to be completed by the applicant tenant and Section B to be completed by the landlord or agent.

Any ONE of the documents listed below is accepted as proof of ownership:

1. evidence of current registration with the RTB; or
2. a current insurance policy or insurance schedule for the property that shows the landlord’s name, the property address and the period of cover including the start and end date; or
3. evidence of payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) which should include the name of the landlord, full address of the property and be dated within the last 12 months; or
4. a mortgage statement which lists the landlord as the owner of the property, confirms the address of the rental property and is dated within the last 12 months; or
5. title deed or similar legal instrument proving ownership of the property.