'Huge traunch' of Laois people now entitled to social housing and rent subsidies
The social housing waiting list in Laois is set to suddenly soar with hundreds more people and families but it will be a long wait to get a home.
The national annual income limit has increased this January by €5,000 for people to rent a long term low cost social home.
That is on top of a €5,000 increase for Laois last October, when the county was moved with four others up to Band 2, based on the rising cost of properties. The other counties are Carlow, Clare, Westmeath and Galway County.
It means that with income limits now starting at €35,000 a year in Laois, many more single people and families who are renting can get a big private rent subsidy while they wait for a home to offer relief as the costs of rent and living soar.
With some 1,800 people already on the Laois waiting list, it may be years more before enough homes are available.
For over a decade, the most that people could earn in Laois and still qualify for a council house, was €25,000 for an individual, and about €30,000 for a couple with several children.
From January, that has shot up to €35,000 for a single person, and up to €42,000 for a family of three adults and four children.
Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Thomasina Connell urges people to apply immediately.
“Once an applicant has had their application approved and been placed on the Council’s Housing List they become eligible for Housing Assitance Payment (HAP) whereby a portion of their rent in private rented accommodation is subsidised by the County Council.
“There will be a huge traunch of people now eligible to apply for Social Housing and HAP for the first time. These are people who would never previously have been able to seek assistance for Housing on the basis of their income being too high.
“I welcome the considerable increase in the income threshold in light of the soaring cost of accommodation across the entire country, no more so than in county Laois.
“I am confident that it will go some way to ensuring Social Housing Supports are available to vulnerable houesholds and help protect those most at risk as a result of the recent increases in the cost of living,” Cllr Connell said.
Applicants who previously applied to Laois County Council for Social Housing and were refused on the basis of their income can now reapply.
“They should do this immediately,” the Cathaoirleach said.
The increased thresholds are: Single Adult €35,000. 2 Adults €36,750. 1 Adult 1 Child €35,875. 1 Adult, 2 Children €36,750. 2 Adults 1 Child €37,625. 2 Adults 3 Children €39,375. 3 Adults 4 Children €42,000.
Some 900 new social homes are planned in Laois in the next three years, with €57m spent by the council and €72m invested by approved housing bodies on their own homes. The council owns some 1,300 homes already.