It is open to any person or household to apply to any housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. It is a matter solely for the housing authority concerned to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the Housing Act 1988 and having regard to the particular circumstances of the case.
Current regulations governing rent supplement provide that, with the exception of certain categories of household, an assessment of housing need is required as part of the process of determining eligibility for rent supplement. Details on the carrying out of assessments of housing need for rent supplement purposes are set out in Circular N09/09 issued by my Department in July 2009. A copy of the circular has been sent to the Deputy for information.