What is HAP?
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support scheme administered by local authorities across Ireland. It replaced the old Rent Supplement scheme for long-term housing needs. Under HAP, the local authority pays a portion of your rent directly to your landlord, and you pay a HAP differential rent to the local authority based on your income.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for HAP, you must:
- Be assessed as eligible for social housing support by your local authority
- Be aged 18 or over
- Have a housing need (e.g., inadequate accommodation, homelessness risk, overcrowding)
- Not already be in receipt of Rent Supplement (you must transfer to HAP if assessed for social housing)
- Be able to afford the HAP differential rent (the local authority will assess your income)
HAP Payment Amounts (2026)
The maximum monthly rent limits for HAP vary by county and household size. These limits are set by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
| Local authority | 1 adult | Couple | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin City / Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown / Fingal / South Dublin | €660 | €900 | €1,250 | €1,275 | €1,300 |
| Cork City & County | €550 | €650 | €900 | €925 | €950 |
| Galway City & County | €575 | €650 | €850 | €875 | €900 |
| Limerick City & County | €420 | €450 | €650 | €700 | €750 |
| Kildare | €575 | €750 | €975 | €1,050 | €1,100 |
| Meath | €575 | €700 | €975 | €1,050 | €1,100 |
| Wicklow | €660 | €900 | €1,150 | €1,200 | €1,250 |
| Waterford City & County | €430 | €450 | €550 | €575 | €600 |
How HAP Works
- You find a private rental property that is within the HAP rent limits
- You apply to your local authority for HAP support
- If approved, the local authority pays the rent directly to your landlord each month
- You pay a differential rent to the local authority (calculated as a percentage of your income)
- You keep the difference if your income is below the HAP payment amount
Differential Rent
The amount you pay to the local authority is your HAP differential rent. It is calculated as a percentage of your household's weekly assessable income. Typically:
- If on a social welfare payment: approximately 10–15% of your income
- If employed: 20–30% of your income, up to a maximum
- The minimum contribution is typically around €30–€40 per week
Tenant Obligations Under HAP
- Pay your differential rent to the local authority on time
- Notify the local authority of any change in your income or circumstances
- Comply with your tenancy agreement with the landlord
- Allow the local authority to inspect the property
- Keep the property in good condition (normal tenant responsibilities)
HAP vs. Rent Supplement
| Feature | HAP | Rent Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Administered by | Local Authority | Department of Social Protection (DSP) |
| Housing type | Long-term social housing | Short-term support |
| Rent limit | HAP rent limits (higher than RS) | Rent Supplement limits (lower) |
| Tenant pays | Differential rent to LA | Rent minus supplement to landlord |
| Moving area | Can move within county | Limited to immediate area |
How to Apply
- Contact the Housing Department of your local authority
- Request a social housing assessment (if not already assessed)
- If eligible, ask about HAP
- Find a suitable property and submit a HAP application
- Once approved, the HAP payment starts from the tenancy commencement date
For help with the application process, contact Threshold (1800 454 454) or your local Citizens Information Centre.
2026 HAP rent limits: the official figures
Official HAP maximum monthly rent limits (€):
| Local authority | 1 adult | Couple | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin City / Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown / Fingal / South Dublin | 660 | 900 | 1,250 | 1,275 | 1,300 |
| Cork City & County | 550 | 650 | 900 | 925 | 950 |
| Galway City & County | 575 | 650 | 850 | 875 | 900 |
| Limerick City & County | 420 | 450 | 650 | 700 | 750 |
| Kildare | 575 | 750 | 975 | 1,050 | 1,100 |
| Meath | 575 | 700 | 975 | 1,050 | 1,100 |
| Wicklow | 660 | 900 | 1,150 | 1,200 | 1,250 |
| Waterford City & County | 430 | 450 | 550 | 575 | 600 |
Two flexibilities matter in practice. First, local authorities can go up to 35% above the published limit on a case-by-case basis where you cannot find accommodation within the limit. Second, a single person can be supported at the 'couple' rate in many areas. If you have four or more children, contact your local authority directly. Rent limits are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figure before committing to a property.
HAP tenancies are private tenancies covered by the Residential Tenancies Acts, so the RTB registration requirement, the one-month deposit cap, and — for tenancies created from 1 March 2026 — the new nationwide rent rules all apply. Landlords cannot advertise a property as 'HAP not accepted' — that is discrimination under equality law.
Action steps
- Confirm you are on your local authority's housing list first — HAP eligibility starts there.
- Check the current HAP limit for your area and household size (hap.ie has a calculator) before viewing properties.
- If the rent is above the limit, ask your local authority about the 35% discretion in writing.
- Get your landlord to register the tenancy with the RTB — you need the registration number for the Rent Tax Credit.
- Report any change in income promptly — your differential rent is recalculated from it.