Local authorities have discretion, on a case by case basis, based on the local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum HAP rent limit by up to 20%. In the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of, homelessness, the local authorities can exceed the limit by up to 50%.
As at Q4 2019 approximately 42.7% of the total number of households supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility. If the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, then 36% of households nationally were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment was 16.6% above HAP rent limits.
A breakdown of the number of HAP tenancies in 2019, and the average top-up percentage paid, for the municipal areas requested, is set out in the following table:
Municipal Area
|
No. of tenancies that received top-up
|
Average Discretion Rate
|
Arklow
|
80
|
17%
|
Baltinglass
|
19
|
19%
|
Bray
|
38
|
17%
|
Greystones
|
34
|
18%
|
Wicklow
|
52
|
18%
|