The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of housing support being rolled out nationwide and is available to households who qualify for social housing support, including many long-term rent supplement recipients.
HAP recipients, like Rent Supplement recipients, find their own accommodation in the private rented market.
Under HAP, local authorities will make payments, subject to rent limits, on behalf of the HAP recipient directly to the landlord in respect of rent. The scheme allows HAP recipients to work full-time and retain their HAP support.
The recipient pays a rent contribution based on the differential rent scheme for their housing authority. This scheme links the rent contribution a household must pay to the household income and the ability to pay.
HAP commenced in Wicklow County Council on 1st December 2016 and to date 12 households on the housing list in Wicklow County Council have found long-term housing through HAP.
In 2016, a total of 12,075 households nationally joined the HAP scheme. It is expected that 15,000 households around the country will join the scheme in 2017.
There is more detailed information on overall social housing provision including HAP on the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government website at:
For more information on the HAP scheme please contact the HAP Section of Wicklow County Council at 0404 20120 or email HAP@wicklowcoco.ie or visit the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government website at:
