Details are not currently available of the number of rent supplement recipients that will be affected by the implementation of articles 6 and 7 of Statutory Instrument 534 of 2008 on 1 February 2013. Results from Census 2011 show that there are a total of 5,695 properties classified as bedsits in the State with the majority in the Dublin area. The census also shows that 5,307 of these bedsits are rented.
Responsibility for setting and enforcing housing standards rests with the Local Authorities. However, accommodation occupied by rent supplement tenants should at least meet minimum housing standards. In consultation with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, S.I. No. 572 of 2006 and Section 25 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 introduced the condition that allows the Department's officer administering supplementary welfare allowance to decide that a rent supplement may not be payable where it has been notified by a housing authority of the non-compliance with standards.
Where such a notification is received from a housing authority in respect of an existing tenant it is recommended that the designated officer would discuss the situation with the tenant and take whatever action it decides is necessary in the best interests of the tenant. This condition for rent supplement supports the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in their aim to promote further improvement in private rented accommodation standards.