Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
881. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that the landlord guarantee where a HAP tenant falls into differential rent arrears only applies where the tenant and HAP tenancy remain in place. [37785/23]
View answerTenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme.
From 1 May 2023 when a HAP tenant defaults on their differential rent payment to the local authority they will be offered the option of a payment plan to assist them in maintaining their tenancy and allow the HAP payment to the landlord to continue.
If the tenant defaults on payment of differential rent or the payment plan, under the Landlord Payment Guarantee, the HAP payment to the landlord will be guaranteed for a maximum 12 month period or earlier if the tenancy ends. The 12 month guarantee is in respect of an active HAP tenancy where the tenant remains in situ.
The Landlord Guarantee will only be applicable to tenancies reaching suspension stage of the HAP debt management process from the 1 May 2023.
