Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
685. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protection a small landlord has when a difficult situation arises (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34217/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTenants in the HAP scheme must sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rent to the relevant local authority, in line with its differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, the tenant must pay this weekly rental contribution to remain eligible for the HAP scheme.
Limerick City and County Council provides a HAP shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP-related rent transactions for the HAP tenant, local authority and landlord. They follow a clear communication policy for rent arrears. 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: at the end of Q4 2025, 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.
From 1 May 2023 when a HAP tenant defaults on their differential rent payment to the local authority, they will be offered the option of a payment plan to assist them in maintaining their tenancy and allow the HAP payment to the landlord to continue. If the tenant defaults on payment of differential rent or the payment plan, under the Landlord Payment Guarantee, the HAP payment to the landlord will be guaranteed for a 12-month period or earlier if the tenancy ends.
If the tenant has not rectified their situation and exited the debt process within three months of the HAP payment to the landlord being suspended, the Landlord Guarantee will be activated.
The HAP SSC will contact the landlord in month three of suspension to obtain confirmation that the tenant remains in the property. Once the confirmation is received, the landlord will then be paid monthly for up to nine months. The initial arrears of three months will be paid retrospectively at the end of the 12-month period or earlier if the tenancy ends.
Issues such as overholding are a matter for the tenant and landlord to resolve with recourse if necessary, to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) dispute resolution service. The RTB was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
