8th August 2024
Simon Communities of Ireland Concerned at Lack of Properties Outside Dublin
The Simon Communities of Ireland’s quarterly Locked Out of the Market report, from June 2024, shows 43 properties were available to rent within the discretionary rate of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme. This is an increase of five properties (13%) since March 2024.
The report found 1,178 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed over the three dates surveyed (June 2024). This is a 26% increase from the 934 properties available in the June 2023 Locked Out report.
HAP Properties
In 10 of the 16 areas, there were no properties available to rent in any household category within standard or discretionary HAP limits. These were Athlone, Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Galway City Suburbs, Galway City Centre, Co. Leitrim, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise and Waterford City Centre.
As seen in many previous Locked Out of the Market reports, the supply of properties within HAP limits are predominantly in Dublin. 40 (93%) of the total 43 HAP properties were found 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.
Just three properties were available within standard HAP limits across the 16 areas. Two of these properties were in Dublin City North and the other property was in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Lowest Number of Properties
Portlaoise had the lowest number of properties available to rent with just four properties available across the three days. Although the total number of properties available to rent increased since the March Locked Out report, five of the 16 study areas saw a reduction in the number of properties available to rent. These include Cork City Suburbs (three properties), Dublin City South (36 properties), Galway City South (five properties), Portlaoise (two properties) and Kildare (41 properties).
Wayne Stanley, Executive Director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“The latest Locked Out of the Market Report findings are concerning particularly in light of the growth in homelessness. We are seeing a lack of properties across various counties but as in previous reports it is notably evident outside of Dublin.
While the majority of those in homeless emergency accommodation are in the Dublin region, the rate of growth in many of the other regions is increasing.
Budget 2025 must see investment in solutions. Those solutions should include increased investment in social and affordable housing, laying the groundwork for the implementation of the housing commission recommendations. We also need to see increased investment in prevention and more supports to those in homelessness, to ensure that the physical and mental impact of homelessness are addressed.”
Single People
Just two properties were available to single person/couple households through a standard HAP rate. Both properties were in Dublin City North. 14 properties were available through discretionary HAP rates. Five properties were in Dublin City North, eight properties were in Dublin City South and one property was in Kildare.
Couple / Parent with One Child
There were no properties available to couple/one parent households with one child through a standard HAP rate. There were 19 properties available through discretionary HAP rates. Nine properties were in Dublin City South, eight properties were in Dublin City North, the remaining two properties were in Dublin City Centre and Dundalk.
Couple / Parent with Two Children
There was one property available to couple/one parent households with two children through a standard HAP rate. There were 27 properties available through discretionary HAP rates, 19 of which overlap with properties available to families with one child. The eight remaining properties were in Dublin City North (two properties), Dublin City South (four properties), Dublin City Centre (one property) and Limerick City Suburbs (one property).
For media enquiries contact:
Aileen Gaskin
P: 087 7724 717
