Housing Policy

Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Questions (342)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

342. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware that local authorities are only providing tenant moves from the private rental sector, and signing first time social housing tenancy agreements two weeks to move into their council property and two weeks HAP from the date the social housing tenancy is signed for, despite the fact that the Residential tenancies Act requires private tenants to provide between 4 and 6 weeks notice on termination of a tenancy; and if he will review the matter to ensure that local authorities arrangements for tenanting and HAP payments are in line with the legal requirements of the RTA. [66392/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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 Acts 2004 – 2025 (RTA). HAP supported tenancies are afforded the same protections and responsibilities as all private rented tenancies.

Under the RTA, Section 66 provides for the termination notice period to be given by a tenant to landlord, depending on how long the tenancy has been in place. However, under section 69 of the RTA, the tenant and landlord may agree to a shorter notice period when terminating a tenancy.

The day-to-day operation of the HAP scheme and the operation of allocations to social housing tenancies are matters for the relevant local authority, and I have no role in these matters.

In relation to the allocation of social housing homes, tenancy start dates and the conclusion of tenancy agreements, these are matters for the relevant local authority to manage taking into account the circumstances of the tenant, the property and the importance of avoiding social home remaining unnecessarily vacant.