Politics

HAP renters to face anti-fraud checks and ‘robust controls’

Housing Assistance Payment oversight group says increases in tenant income are not routinely tracked and collated

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing: his department has confirmed that it is in discussions with the Department of Social Protection about implementing checks for suspected HAP fraud. Picture: Collins Photos

Anti-fraud checks are set to be carried out on renters using the state’s €430 million housing support scheme for the first time since it was set up almost a decade ago.

There are around 60,000 households using the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), and they pay a contribution to their local council depending on their income.

Households are required to inform their local council if their income increases so that their rental contribution can be increased, ...