COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2014

QUESTION NO.14

QUESTION: Councillor Martina Genockey

To ask the chief executive to examine the possibility, ahead of the council taking over the payment of rent allowance, of a rule being introduced where landlords cannot ask a potential tenant by what means they intend to pay their rent before coming to an agreement to rent. This would be with a view to clamping down on discrimination against people on rent allowance which is now rampant in the private rental market.

REPLY:

The proposed Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) when introduced will provide for the Council to make rent payments direct to the Landlords thereby guaranteeing their payment on a monthly basis.  This will remove the concern of some landlords that the tenant will not pay the rent.

The Council has no authority or control over who private landlords wish to rent their property to nor over the clarifications they seek in relation to rent or references