Just four properties available under discretionary HAP in Dundalk

There were just four properties available to rent under the discretionary Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in Dundalk, the latest Locked Out of the Market study undertaken by Simon Communities of Ireland has revealed.

The study which was undertaken on the 18th, 19th, and 20th December 2023 and showed that there were no properties available within HAP rates for single people or couples and there were no properties available under a standard HAP rate.

For couples and one-parent families with one child, there were two properties available in the town within discretionary HAP limits.

There were an additional 2 properties available for families with two children. 

In Dundalk, monthly rents for one-bedroom properties ranged from €1070-€1650 while monthly rents for two-bedroom properties ranged from €1305-€1600. 

Meanwhile, monthly rents for the three-bedroom properties ranged from €1500-€1800. 

According to Daft.ie, average rents in Co. Louth rose by 8.3% in the last year and now sit at €1664. 

The report also showed that there were four one-bedroom no cost limit properties available over the three days of the study with rents ranging from €1070-€1650.

There were 13 no cost limit  two-bedroom properties available in Dundalk over the course of this study, with monthly rents of between €1,305 and €1,600. 

For the 9 no cost limit Three-bedroom properties available rents ranged from €1,500 -€1,800.

It should be noted that properties in the above figures can overlap from the previous day.

According to Daft.ie, average rents in Co. Louth increased by 12.1% in the last year and now sit at €1,624.

Locked Out of the Market is a snapshot study undertaken every quarter over three consecutive days. The study tracks the number of properties advertised to rent within the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits.

Details were gathered from Daft.ie from 16 areas across Ireland, including Dundalk. The study compares the findings to the previous studies providing indicative point-in-time data on the pressure in the private rental sector. It is said to reflect the lived experience of people trying to find a home to rent in this period.

The study also examined availability of properties within discretionary HAP limits, which is up to an additional 35% of the standard rate elsewhere. The four household categories examined in the study are as follows:

Single person
Couple
Couple/One Parent and One Child
Couple/One Parent and Two Children
The study counts one-bedroom units for single people and couples, two-bedroom units for couples/one parent and one child, and two bedrooms or more for couples/one parent with two children.