Cabinet Agrees To Increase Rent Limits

The Cabinet has agreed to increase rent limits under the Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) schemes, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government Simon Coveney have announced.

The new limits will allow people who cannot afford the full cost of private rented accommodation to receive greater assistance from the State from Friday 01 July.

Speaking following Cabinet, Minister Varadkar said: "These new rent limits reflect the fact that rents are rising right across Ireland and are back to their peak levels in some places. Through a combination of increased rent limits, and the ongoing flexibility and discretionary increases provided by my Department’s Community Welfare Service staff, we will provide more stability for tenants and reduce the danger of families becoming homeless when their rent is increased.

"This Government wants to ensure that our recovering economy works for everyone. We aim to achieve that by promoting an enterprise economy, making work pay, investing in public services, ensuring opportunity and a fair go for everyone. We must ensure that we have a strong safety net so that everyone has a roof over their head. In many cases, Rent Supplement or Housing Assistance Payment is that safety net."

Minister Coveney added: "As Minister for Housing I am determined to tackle the housing crisis that Ireland is currently experiencing. This requires a range of measures from all sectors involved, both short and long term. I’m confident that the new limits being announced today will help alleviate the pressure experienced by families in the private rented sector, while other longer term housing measures are put in place. They will help households to remain in their existing homes while also providing sufficient flexibility to enable people to source accommodation in a constrained rental market."

(MH/CD)