Mayo councillor highlights housing gap for domestic violence victims on rent supplement
The Local Authority Tenant in Situ (TiS) scheme is discriminatory towards those coming out of domestic violence situations.
These were the words of Mayo councillor Donna Sheridan who criticised the scheme as it prevents tenants who receive rent supplement from applying. She pointed out that many victims of domestic violence rely on rent supplement when leaving abusive situations, making them ineligible for the TiS scheme.
The TiS scheme allows local authorities to purchase a property from a landlord, allowing the tenant to remain in their home under council tenancy. To qualify, tenants must be at risk of homelessness if the property is sold, and must have been in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) for at least two years. If someone is on rent supplement they do not qualify for TiS.
“Tenants in situ schemes are completely discriminatory, especially towards people coming from domestic violence circumstances,” said Cllr Sheridan, “You can't apply for the tenant in situ scheme if you’re in receipt of rent supplement. Rent supplement is given to people coming out of domestic violence, therefore we are discriminating against those most vulnerable.”
Rent supplement is a short-term, means-tested payment designed to help private tenants who cannot meet their rent. Victims of domestic violence can access this support immediately through TUSLA-funded services, with the means test waived for three months. Rent supplement can be given for a further three months but will be means-tested. After that period, they are expected to transition to longer-term social housing supports such as HAP or RAS.
However, Cllr Sheridan described a case in her constituency where a woman has remained on rent supplement for two years. Because she never transitioned to HAP or RAS, she is ineligible from the TiS scheme, even though her home meets every other condition for local authority purchase.
“I’ve written to the Minister and I’ve written to the department. I’ve raised this everywhere and nobody is listening,” said Cllr Sheridan, “They don’t seem to understand that people can get stuck on rent supplement and need to be transferred to HAP or RAS.”
The issue has also been raised in the Seanad by Senator Mark Duffy, who urged the Government to expand TiS to cover rent supplement tenants.
“People who receive rent supplement are often victims of domestic violence and abuse and have been relocated. They are being penalised and are suffering a negative impact under this policy,” he said.
In response to this, the Minister of State highlighted that the TiS scheme has benefitted people in Mayo and is a good solution to help people avoid homelessness.
“The Department is providing €325 million in 2025 for local authorities to buy second-hand properties, with a particular focus on the tenant in situ, where tenants in receipt of social housing support, such as the housing assistance payment or the rental accommodation scheme, had received a notice of termination.”
The Minister of State pointed to the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ (CRTiS) scheme as an alternative for tenants on rent supplement. Under CRTiS, the Housing Agency can purchase a property and work with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to manage it. To qualify, tenants must not be receiving HAP or RAS, must have a net annual household income under €59,000, and must be at risk of homelessness due to the landlord selling the property.
However, Cllr Sheridan pointed out that AHB activity in regards to social and affordable housing in Mayo is minimal. According to statistics released by the Department for Housing, since 2023 when the CRTiS was created, AHBs have delivered one home in the county under the scheme.
With such limited activity under CRTiS in Mayo, tenants on rent supplement are effectively locked out of both tenant in situ schemes. They cannot access CRTiS due to the lack of AHB involvement and are also ineligible for local authority purchase under TiS rules.
“The majority of people who get rent supplement are those coming from domestic violence circumstances,” said Cllr Sheridan, “It’s disgraceful that people who find themselves in these situations are then again being discriminated against based on the actual rent allowance they are put on. It’s cruel.”
Reviewing the TiS scheme to include tenants on rent supplement would help close a gap in housing support in Mayo, providing greater security for vulnerable individuals and families, including survivors of domestic violence. Alternatively, increasing AHBs involvement with the Housing Agency to deliver more CRTiS properties would offer much needed help to those affected.
This article was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.