Families forced to dig deep for rents despite allowance

One in six families in receipt of rent allowances in Co Cork are having to dig deeply into their own pockets to cope with rising rents.

The situation is reportedly particularly acute in the greater Cork area where rents have increased dramatically in recent months. As a result, some families are being forced to relocate to Mid-Cork and West Cork as they cannot afford to rent properties near the city.

Under the housing assistance payment scheme (HAP), a family with three children receives €750 monthly towards their rent. The local authority pays it directly to the landlord. The tenant, in turn, pays a differential rent to the local authority based on a household’s weekly income.