HAP scheme ‘not working’ in Portlaoise as rents hit €2,000 for two-bed properties

A new report found no properties were available in Portlaoise within HAP limits

Published 6th Aug 2026, 19:30 BST File photo: Pixabay. A new report found no properties were available in Portlaoise within HAP limits Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

A new report has found that there were no properties in Portlaoise available to rent within the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in the second quarter of this year, as rents continue to soar in the county.

The Simon Communities of Ireland’s (SCI) quarterly Locked Out of the Market report is a snapshot study undertaken every quarter which tracks the number of properties available to rent within the HAP limits.

HAP is a form of social housing support provided by all local authorities, including Laois County Council. Under HAP, local authorities can provide housing assistance to households with a long-term housing need, including many long-term Rent Supplement recipients.

The scheme is an important source of support within the private rented sector, however this report states that it has “not kept pace with rapidly rising market rent.”

This study examined the availability of properties within standard and discretionary HAP limits in 16 areas, including in Portlaoise.

An average of 9 properties were available to rent in Portlaoise each day during the study period. However, there were no properties available within HAP limits for any household types.

Planned Laois domestic abuse refuge to increase in size welcomed by TD Brian Stanley There were also no one-bedroom or three-bedroom properties available in Portlaoise.

The report found that the monthly cost of rent for a two-bedroom property in the town ranged between €1,950 and €2,000.

The last report by SCI in March also showed no properties available within HAP limits in Portlaoise.

Portlaoise was one of the nine counties which had no available HAP properties in either report.

The HAP limits for Laois are €420 a month for a single adult, €433 for a couple, €580 for a couple and one child, €610 for a couple and two children, and €630 for three plus children.

Local authorities have flexibility to go above the HAP rent limits, if people can’t find accommodation within the limits. They do this on a case-by-case basis. They are able to go up to 35% above the rent limits or increase the HAP rates for a single person to the rates allowed for couples.

Nationally, out of the 20 properties found to be available for HAP, 17 were in Dublin. Kildare was the only area outside of Dublin with any properties suitable for the scheme.

SCI noted that “the prospect of finding a rental property within HAP limits remains extremely difficult, especially outside of Dublin where supply is even more limited, and HAP limits are set much lower.”

Commenting on the findings in the report, Ber Grogan, Executive Director at SCI, said: “The Simon Communities of Ireland has published the Locked Out of the Market Report for over ten years, and our message has remained the same – the HAP system needs reform.

“It is almost one year since the Minister confirmed that a review of HAP was underway, yet we are still no clearer on its findings or recommendations. Will Budget 2027 finally deliver the long-awaited increase to HAP limits?”

He added: “The quarter one 2026 Homeless Progress Report showed that HAP was used less than in the same period last year, either as a homeless prevention measure or as an exit from homelessness.

“HAP is not working. People are still locked out of the market. We see and hear this on the ground every single day, across the country. People are being discriminated against. There is one short-term solution that would make an immediate difference – increase the HAP limits.”