There is good news for people seeking to rent property, who are in receipt of a broad range of State payments.
The Government has decided to prohibit discrimination in relation to a tenant or prospective tenant on the basis that the person is or is not in receipt of a housing assistance payment, rent supplement, or that the person’s income in whole or in part is or is not provided by the State as a social welfare payment.
Speaking following the announcement, Minister of State, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said, “It is a common practice for advertisements in relation to rental accommodation to say that rent supplement is not accepted. This practice has a harmful effect on persons seeking to rent accommodation and the Government has therefore decided to prohibit such discrimination.
The necessary amendments to equality legislation will be made in the context of a Private Members’ Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, which is currently before the Seanad. It is expected that the amendments will be published in the current parliamentary term and the Bill enacted shortly.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.