Three homes available under HAP in Dundalk Simon report shows

There were just three homes available to rent in Dundalk, within either the standard or the discretionary rate of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme, over the three dates surveyed in June for the latest Simon Communities of Ireland’s quarterly Locked Out of the Market report.

The report found 978 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed in Ireland over the three dates surveyed, including 13 in Dundalk, a drop of four compared to the last report. .

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need and is provided by the local authority.

There were three properties available under a discretionary HAP rate for Couple/One Parent + 2 Children households, a facility available to local authorities to pay an uplift of 35% on HAP rates.

An average of 13 properties were available to rent in Dundalk each day during the study period. Monthly rents ranged from €1,450-€1,500 for one bedroom, €1,400-€1,695 for two bedrooms, €1,800-€2,100 for three bedrooms and €2,500- €3,000 for four bedrooms.  

Nationally, the report found just 32 properties available within standard or discretionary HAP limits across the 16 study areas.  

This represents just 3% of the total properties examined in the study. 

This is the same as 2024’s average. In 2023, an average of 4% of properties were available through HAP. In 2022, the average was 8% and in 2021 the average was 28%. .

Just five properties were available through standard HAP limits. Four of these were suitable for single person/couple households, while one was suitable for families with two children. 

22 (69%) of the 32 properties available through HAP were in Dublin. In Dublin, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50% on the standard rate; this is limited to 35% elsewhere in the country.  

Ber Grogan, executive director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, repeated her call for an updated HAP limit and  said the findings of the report must act as a “wake-up call for policymakers”.

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“With only 32 properties available under HAP across 16 areas and entire counties without a single option, people entitled to housing support are being pushed further into homelessness and essentially, left behind.

“The rental market is failing those most in need.

“We urgently need accelerated delivery of social and affordable housing, meaningful reforms to HAP rates, and a targeted strategy to prevent homelessness.

“We must ensure that hope is restored for those people who are locked out of access to this accommodation option.

“The Simon Communities of Ireland has been calling for updated HAP limits for many years.

“We welcomed the ombudsman’s report on HAP and will continue to call for reform. Budget 2026 will give the opportunity to address this cause of homelessness before our next Locked Out of the Market report.”