COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 14, 2022

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

To ask the Chief Executive if it is correct to state that upon receipt of either HAP approval or a council house, that ones income can rise indefinitely beyond the limits for eligibility for housing supports, however if one is in receipt of HAP and then applies for a council house via CBL, ones income must be below the income threshold for housing supports in order to make a successful application, the implication being that if one is in receipt of HAP and wishes to eventually obtain a council house, ones income must remain below the eligibility threshold?

REPLY:

Currently, where an applicant has been approved for social housing supports and secures a private rented tenancy with Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) support, that applicant is not subsequently reassessed in relation to social housing eligibility and/or income thresholds if they make a successful expression of interest for a social housing tenancy through Choice Based Letting (CBL).

However, it is a requirement for such prospective tenants to provide updated household income details for the purposes of rent assessment in accordance with Council or Approved Housing Bodies' differential rent schemes upon accepting a tenancy. 

This current practice could potentially be amended by revised social housing guidelines at any stage.