Tipperary people considering quitting work to qualify for social housing

That was the claim made by councillor Liam Browne at the December meeting of Tipperary County Council during a discussion about social housing.

Cllr Browne said that the system of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) needed to be looked at, as people are topping up their HAP payment by more than it would cost them if they were just renting a council house.

Under the HAP system, the council pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord, with the tenant being able to top up this amount, and then paying a contribution to the local authority.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Browne said the system needed to be looked at.

“We really have to go and re-look at the HAP system again, we’re now in a situation where the amount of top ups that people are having to pay on top of the rent for HAP is more than they would be paying for a council house for the rent.

“Those people are also paying a council rent as well, it’s absolutely crucifying people, to the stage where I have people coming to me who are being turned down for being on the list for council housing because they’re a couple of hundred euro over the threshold,” Cllr Browne said.

Despite people being over the income threshold, they still can’t rent in the private market, because market rents are too high.

“People are being turned down for the council housing list because they’ve got a couple of extra bob, but to actually go and rent in the private market, they can’t do it anymore, it’s just too far away.

“We’re giving people HAP support of maybe €500 or €600 and they’re paying €1,200 or €1,300 for rent, which means they’ve got to make up the difference, and pay rent back to the council,” Cllr Browne outlined.

“A lot of these people have said to me that they’re now seriously considering giving up work altogether to get back under the limits, which is not good for people when that’s the only choice they have to get a council house,” he added.

In response, the council’s director of services for housing Jonathan Cooney said that the council had sent a letter to the Housing Minister.

“The HAP system has come up in the strategic policy committee (SPC), a letter has now gone to the Minister in relation to that,” he said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme