Rent allowance changes to hit hard

TENANTS whose straitened financial circumstances leave them dependent on rent allowance will struggle to pay their landlords from Monday when changes to rent supplement payments kick in.

From June 1, the minimum contribution tenants must make towards their rent will rise from €18 to €24. In addition, the state payment to landlords who accept tenants in receipt of rent allowance will fall by up to 10%.

While the increases were announced in the April supplementary budget, many tenants only received official notification in the past few days. A letter from social welfare services in Co Sligo, dated May 24, advises tenants to “talk to your landlord to seek a reduction in your rent payment”, in other words, the onus is on the tenant to get the landlord to agree to lower rent.