Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
591. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the housing assistance discretionary payment is exempt from rent pressure zone criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15097/19]
View answerA key principle of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector and the tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. HAP supported tenancies are afforded the same protections available to all private rented tenancies.
For an area to be designated a Rent Pressure Zone, it must satisfy the criteria set out in section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as inserted by section 36 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016). Rent Pressure Zones are designated Local Electoral Areas or administrative areas of local authorities in which rent increases are restricted to a maximum of 4% per annum. The Rent Pressure Zone legislation applies to HAP tenancies in these designated areas.
