No HAP Properties Available To Rent In Kildare For Single People, Report Finds

The study shows 'stark decline' in properties available to rent within HAP limits.

There was an average of 19 properties available to rent in Kildare over a three day period in June, according to the Simon Communities of Ireland’s quarterly 'Locked Out of the Market' report.

However, in the same period, there were no properties available within HAP rates for single people or households with one child in Kildare.

For HAP scheme users just four properties were available to rent in total; two for couples and two for households with two children.

The following areas in Kildare were surveyed during this study period; Ballitore, Ballymore Eustace, Celbridge, Clane, Johnstownbridge, Kilcock, Kildare, Kill, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas, Newbridge, Prosperous, Rathangan, Robertstown, Sallins, Straffan, and The Curragh.

If the 35% discretionary rate had been in place at the time of this study, an additional three properties would have been available under discretionary HAP.

In Kildare, during the three day period when the survey was carried out, rents ranged from €850-€1300 for one-bedroom properties,from €1200-€3000 for two-bedroom properties and from €1200-€2300 for three-bedroom properties.

According to daft.ie, average rents in Kildare rose 7.8% in the last year and now sit at €1565.

The report comes in the context of a private rental market affected by a documented ongoing contraction in supply, increase in rental prices, and an overall lack of affordability.

The Locked Out of the Market report examines the experience of people on a low income and dependent on Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to access housing in the private rental market.

In this report, the Simon Communities of Ireland has taken account of the recent announcement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the discretionary rate to 35% for areas outside Dublin.

On Thursday 7th July, the Minister signed the required statutory instrument to give effect to this commitment.  

Wayne Stanley, Head of Policy and Communications at the Simon Communities of Ireland, commented: “We’re seeing homelessness numbers go up and the availability of affordable properties decline to unprecedented levels.

"In May we had 10,325 people in homeless emergency accommodation.These numbers are truly shocking," he insisted

"We do acknowledge the positive intervention that the Minister for Housing has made with the increase in HAP rates. While it falls short of the 50% increase that we have been calling for, our study shows it will have a positive, if limited impact, in supporting those on HAP to secure a home. 

"It will serve to relieve some of the pressure from those ‘topping up’ their HAP payment and struggling to make ends meet. In the context of the current cost of living crisis, this intervention will help keep some vulnerable households out of homelessness.  

However, we also have to acknowledge the depth of the crisis in housing. That means we have to start looking for options that can create some breathing room in the housing system. 

"The 166,000 vacant homes identified in the census is a starting point," he said.

"Attacking vacancy and bringing even 3% (5,000) of these a year into public housing system use for the next 2 years would give us that headroom. In the coming budget, we will be calling on the government to make that level of commitment," he added.