Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.
The tenant makes the application for rent supplement and the Department's relationship is with the tenant. Payment is made to the tenant and is specifically for the benefit of the tenant to assist them with their accommodation needs. Where the Executive becomes aware that a person receiving rent supplement is not using that supplement to meet housing costs, payment of the supplement is stopped. Payment of rent supplement can only be made direct to a landlord or landlord's agent at a tenant's request.
Disputes arising between landlords and tenants can be referred to the Private Residential Tenancies Board for either mediation or adjudication as chosen by the parties.