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Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)

What is HAP?

HAP is a new form of housing support provided by local authorities. The introduction of HAP will mean that local authorities can now provide housing assistance for households who qualify for social housing support, including many long-term rent supplement recipients. Under HAP, local authorities will make the full rent payment on behalf of the HAP recipient directly to the landlord. The HAP recipient will then pay a rent contribution to the local authority. The rent contribution is a differential rent – that is, a rent based on income and the ability to pay.


Why is HAP being introduced?

HAP is being introduced to provide a more integrated system of housing supports and aims to:

  • allow all social housing supports to be accessed through one body – the local authority, and
  • allow recipients to take up full-time employment and still keep their housing support.



Who is eligible for HAP?

  • Any household that qualifies for social housing support will be eligible to apply for HAP.
  • Current rent supplement recipients who qualify for social housing support will be transferred from rent supplement to HAP on a phased basis.



When is HAP being introduced?

HAP is being introduced on a phased basis.  A HAP pilot scheme commenced in Limerick in April 2014.  Following the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 in July 2014, Phase 1 of HAP commenced in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council in September 2014. Louth County Council, South Dublin County Council, Monaghan County Council and Kilkenny County Council joined Phase 1 in October 2014. The remaining local authority areas will take on the scheme on a phased basis during 2015.

 

How will HAP work?

  • In order to qualify for HAP, a household must be qualified for social housing support by their local authority, which means the household must qualify to go on the local authority housing waiting list.
  • HAP recipients will be responsible for finding their own accommodation in the private rented market. (This is the same as the current rent supplement scheme.)
  • The landlord must agree to rent their property to a HAP recipient.
  • The local authority will then pay the rent in full directly to the landlord, subject to terms and conditions including rent limits.
  • The HAP recipient pays their rent contribution to the local authority. To begin with, rent contributions will generally be made through An Post’s Household Budget Scheme.
  • Computer systems are being developed to allow rent contributions to be deducted directly from social welfare payments made to HAP recipients and local authority tenants.



What benefits has HAP?

For HAP recipients

  • HAP allows recipients to take up full-time employment, while still receiving housing support.
  • The rent contribution payable by the HAP recipientwill be based on the differential rent scheme for their local authority. This scheme links the rent contribution a household must pay to the household income and the ability to pay.
  • HAP will help to regulate the private rental sector and improve standards of accommodation. Properties will be inspected to make sure that they meet the required standards.
  • HAP recipients will be able to avail of other social housing supports and options, if they so choose.
  • Local authorities will be responsible for all social housing supports.

For landlords

  • The landlord will receive prompt payments directly from the local authority on a monthly basis, subject to the HAP recipient paying the local authority their rent contribution.
  • There will be no need for rent collection from tenants who are HAP recipients leading to administrative savings for landlords.
  • All payments will be made electronically.

 

Who will continue to receive Rent Supplement?

Rent Supplement will continue to be paid to tenants who have already been in private rented accommodation for at least six of the previous 12 months before applying.  Tenants may also qualify if they have received rent supplement at any time during the 12 months before applying.  This payment will be paid by the Department of Social Protection as before. These recipients will qualify without being assessed for housing need.

 

Will HAP clients be able to access other housing supports?

Yes. HAP recipients will have access to other social housing supports offered by local authorities, such as local authority housing or housing provided by Approved Housing Bodies. Any HAP recipient who wishes to do so will be able to access other social housing supports, not through the current waiting list system, but through the transfer system operated by local authorities, where they can apply to transfer from HAP to other forms of social housing support such as local authority housing or housing provided by approved housing bodies. Examples of approved housing bodies include Clúid, Respond and Túath.

It is intended that where a HAP recipient applies for a transfer immediately after entering HAP, the transfer list would reflect the time the recipient previously spent on the waiting list. The HAP recipient would therefore be placed on the transfer list on no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list.

 

Further Information


For further information please contact your local authority.  Q&A section will be available shortly.

 

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