The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Roxanne O’Leary €6,000 after finding that her landlady, Margaret O’Leary, discriminated against her by refusing to sign Housing Assistance Payment forms. The decision was dated 12 July 2021.
Roxanne O’Leary had rented from Margaret O’Leary and said her landlady initially agreed to support her HAP application but later refused to sign the forms, citing rent arrears. The landlady’s side also said she was not the registered owner of the property. Roxanne O’Leary had withdrawn her separate complaint about how her Rent Supplement application was handled.
The adjudicator found that Roxanne O’Leary was covered by the housing assistance ground and that the forms had been refused. The arrears explanation was unconvincing because the arrears existed from the start of the tenancy and had not previously been pursued. The refusal was found to be in bad faith and discriminatory. The WRC also directed Margaret O’Leary to become familiar with the HAP scheme and accept payments from the local authority.