No properties in Dundalk available under a standard HAP rate

There were just three 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 over three days in March showed that there were there were two properties available within discretionary HAP limits for couple/one parent households with one child and  three properties available within discretionary HAP limits for couple/one parent households with two children

There were no properties available under a standard HAP rate and no one-bedroom properties available at any price across the three days.

In Dundalk, monthly rents for one-bedroom properties ranged from €1070-€1650 while monthly rents for two-bedroom properties ranged from €1300-€1800. 

Meanwhile, monthly rents for the three-bedroom properties were €1800. 

According to Daft.ie, rents in Louth have increased by 15% since last year and now sit at an average of €1,254. 

The report also showed that there were no one-bedroom no cost limit properties available over the three days of the study.

There were 11 no cost limit  two-bedroom properties available in Dundalk over the course of this study, with monthly rents of between €1,200 and €1,800. 

There were also 2 no cost limit three-bedroom properties available with a rent of €1800

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

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.