The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band are based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of the income eligibility limits for social housing supports has commenced. I would expect the results of this review to be available for publication in the middle of 2018. Among other objectives, this review is to consider the barriers that may exist by virtue of having three separate income bands and an assessment of the feasibility of introducing a formal transfer system that would allow social housing applicants move across county borders and income thresholds.
It is important to note that inter county movement is facilitated, to some degree, for those in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The flexibility of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) as a social housing support is one of the scheme’s key characteristics and was one of the primary benefits envisaged at the outset of the scheme. The new arrangements for movement between local authorities, introduced in April 2017, have increased equality of access by allowing households eligible for social housing support to avail of HAP in any local authority area, subject to the current Social Housing Eligibility Income Bands. Such flexibility removes administrative barriers and delays, better utilises all private rental stock for social housing purposes and provides for maximum activation potential of HAP households by removing geographical barriers to employment, such as loss of housing support or loss of time on a transfer list.
The following table provides details of the inter-authority movement since April (when the option was made available) to October 2017:
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Summary of Inter-LA Movement (as at 24th Oct 2017)
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Intra Dublin
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583
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Dublin to other Local Authorities
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55
|
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All other inter-local authority movement
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322
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Total
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960
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