A local councillor has hit out at landlords that refuse to accept the Housing Assistance Payment scheme.
Cllr Michael Mac Giolla Easbuig says that more and more families are being pushed into poverty due to a combination of certain landlords’ refusal to accept the scheme and a lack of available social housing.
“Shame on people who do not accept this payment scheme,” he said.
“The HAP scheme is there to give financial assistance to people to pay their rent who are on the housing list and still haven’t been allocated a house by the council.
“I get regular calls from people looking for support and advice because the landlord will not accept this HAP scheme on the house they are renting. This can be for many reasons including avoid paying any form of tax on the rent they receive.
“This is an absolute disgrace and shame on them, we are in the middle of one of the worst housing crises in decades.
“The failure of the state to provide adequate funding to build social housing has forced more more people and families into poverty. This governments capitalist agenda is to look to the private sector to provide the housing needs of our people, is all about making profit for developers who generally pay huge contribution to government parties every year to look after their needs.
“Capitalism only works for a very very small minority and never the majority,” he concluded.
Maximum monthly rent limits under HAP. Table sourced via Citizens’ Information. Info accurate as per Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2017
