8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding HAP tenancies where one income earner moves out, to ensure that the remaining tenant is not financially adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65844/25]

Sentiment score: 0.19

In traditional council housing or social housing if the tenant's income changes or the number of people in the house changes because kids leave or anybody leaves, the tenant does not get thrown out of the house. They do not get threatened with possible homelessness. They do not build up arrears. The rent is adjusted to the tenant's means and to the number of people in the house. That does not happen if the tenant is in the HAP scheme and, by the way, it does not happen if they are in cost rental so tenants can very quickly find themselves in trouble. What is the Minister of State going to do about that?

Sentiment score: 0.01

Sylvia is in a HAP tenancy for five years. From the beginning she was also paying a top-up to her landlord. She used to live with her eldest son. He has moved out. The landlord has also increased the rent and Sylvia used to get a carers' payment for her father, but her father passed away so she does not get that payment. She has been hit three different ways, with increased rent, lower income and now fewer people in the house. She went to the council, as the Minister of State proposed she do, and the officials said: "Tough luck". The rent is €2,000 to the private landlord, because that is the problem with HAP. Is the council willing to help her out? No, it is not willing to because the Government's rules actually preclude it. Therefore, rent arrears are building up and fairly soon she will be threatened with homelessness unless something is done. By the way, the same thing is happening with cost rental for tenants where people move out and they are faced with the same rent and have less income. What are they supposed to do?

Sentiment score: -0.06

I appreciate that and I will send the Minister of State Sylvia's details, but, as he can see, there is a more general problem. There is somebody who works in here - I will not give away their identity- who is on a very modest income. They got cost-rental accommodation at €1,200, but their son was living with them who was earning. The son has moved out but they are stuck with a €1,200 rent but with half the income. What are they supposed to do? They have not got the money to pay for their son's rent as well, but cost rental does not work the same way as social housing where the rent is adjusted. Given the Government's new housing plan is proposing essentially to do away with differential rents and social housing in favour of cost rental, this is going to cause a big problem. Itt is going to be much more general and it is happening under HAP. A lot of people are getting caught with this and we are going to see more and more of it, so there is going to have to be a plan because people will end up homeless from cost-rental and from HAP tenancies. That is what going to happen. The Minister of State has got to address it and the councils have to address it.

Sentiment score: -0.06