23rd October 2025
Locked Out of the Market Report by Simon Communities of Ireland Finds Just 24 HAP Properties Available in 16 Areas surveyed in September
The Simon Communities of Ireland’s (SCI) quarterly Locked Out of the Market report, from September 2025, shows that just 24 properties were available to rent within any of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme limits. This is a decrease of eight properties (25%) since June 2025.
The report found 833 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed over the three dates surveyed (September 2025). This is a 26% reduction from the 1,119 properties available in the September 2024 Locked Out report.
HAP Properties
There were no HAP properties available in 11 of the 16 areas – these include Athlone, Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Galway City Suburbs, Galway City Centre, Co. Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise, and Waterford City Centre.
Six of the 16 study areas saw a reduction in the number of HAP properties available since the June 2025 report. These include Dublin City Centre (one property), Dundalk (two properties), Galway City Suburbs (one property), Galway City Centre (one property), Kildare (two properties), and Limerick City Suburbs (one property).
In Dublin, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50% on the standard rate; this is limited to 35% elsewhere.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“With just 24 properties available under any HAP limits, the rental sector continues to fail those reliant on social housing supports in the private rental sector yet again. Our latest Locked Out of the Market shows that people on lower incomes simply cannot access affordable rental homes.
The Simon Communities of Ireland had hoped that Budget 2026 would take meaningful steps to address homelessness, but it remains to be seen if the measures announced will make any tangible difference to people. Unless developers and landlords are obligated to provide social and affordable homes, thousands will continue to experience the trauma of homelessness. I welcome news that a review into HAP has commenced, but without an immediate uplift in line with market rents, the Private Rental Sector will continue to be a main driver of people being forced into homelessness.”
Lowest Number of Properties
Sligo Town and Co. Leitrim had the lowest number of properties available to rent at any price, with just three and four properties available in each area, respectively, across the three days. 10 of the 16 study areas saw a reduction in the number of properties available to rent. These include Athlone (13 properties), Cork City Centre (three properties), Dublin City South (119 properties), Dublin City Centre (28 properties), Galway City Suburbs (10 properties), Kildare (three properties), Co. Leitrim (four properties), Limerick City Suburbs (13 properties), Limerick City Centre (nine properties) and Sligo Town (four properties).
Six of the 16 study areas saw an increase in the number of properties available to rent. These included Cork City Suburbs (five properties), Dublin City North (22 properties), Dundalk (12 properties), Galway City Centre (five properties), Portlaoise (three properties) and Waterford City Centre (14 properties).
Studio Apartments
For the purpose of this report, studio apartments are not included in the overall figure for HAP properties. However, there were 22 studio apartments available within any HAP limits during the study period. Only one of these properties was available within standard HAP limits. The 22 studio apartments were all located in Dublin.
Caoimhe, Mid West Simon service user, said:
“I am currently living in homeless services while on jobseekers payment as I’ve been struggling the last two years to find work. I am currently on the housing list for approximately the last two years. I have been allocated HAP allowance but even at that, it is very hard to find a landlord who will accept HAP, and if they do accept it, you’re left to scrape by. The homeless crisis in this country is very heartbreaking and disheartening for people looking to start their lives and build a future.”
Single Person / Couple
There was one property available to single person/couple households through a standard HAP rate, located in Dublin City South. There were an additional nine properties available for single person/couple households within discretionary HAP limits. These were in Dublin City North (three properties), Dublin City South (five properties) and Dublin City Centre (one property).
Couples/Parent with One Child
There were no properties available to couple/one parent households with one child through a standard HAP rate. There were 11 properties available through discretionary HAP rates. Five properties were in Dublin City North, three were in Dublin City South, one in Dundalk and two were in Kildare.
Couple / Parent with Two Children
There were no properties available to couple/one parent households with two children through a standard HAP rate. There were three properties available through discretionary HAP rates, and an additional 11 that overlapped with properties available to families with one child. The three unique properties were in Dublin City North (one property) and Dublin City South (two properties).
ENDS
For media enquiries contact:
Aileen Gaskin
P: 087 7724 717
