No properties in Dundalk available under a standard HAP rate

There were just no properties available to rent under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in Dundalk, the September Locked Out of the Market study undertaken by Simon Communities of Ireland has revealed.

The study which was undertaken over three days in August showed that there were no properties available within discretionary HAP limits for couple/one parent households with one child and no properties available within discretionary HAP limits for couple/one parent households with two children.

The average number of properties available to rent each day at no minimum cost in Dundalk was nine.

There were ten unique properties available to rent with no minimum cost across three days.

In Dundalk, monthly rents for one-bedroom properties stood at  €1,452 while monthly rents for two-bedroom properties ranged from €1,500-€2,000. 

Meanwhile, monthly rents for the three-bedroom properties were €1,517-€3,000.

Over the three days, there were no properties available within HAP limits for any of the household types studied.

According to Daft.ie, the average rent in County Louth has increased by 10.4% since last year and now sits at €1,793.

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.

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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.

Nationally, the report found just 33 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.For comparison, 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 three properties were available through standard HAP limits. Two of these were suitable for single person/couple households, while one was suitable for families with two children.

25 (76%) of the 33 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.

In 12 out of the 16 study areas there were no properties available to rent through HAP in any household category. These include Athlone, Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Dundalk, Galway City Suburbs, Galway City Centre, Co. Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise and Waterford City Centre.