The Workplace Relations Commission ordered landlord John Corley to pay tenant Laura Keane €13,000 after finding he discriminated against her by refusing to complete her Housing Assistance Payment application. The decision was dated 4 April 2023.
Keane told the WRC that Corley said he did not want HAP on his property after she said she planned to apply. The WRC found that his ongoing refusal to complete the form or accept HAP payments treated her less favourably than a tenant not receiving housing assistance. Corley did not attend the hearing, and the WRC proceeded after refusing his adjournment request.
The commission also directed Corley to take the steps needed to enable Keane to join the HAP scheme, including completing the relevant application sections and accepting payments from the local authority. HAP is a local authority payment that helps eligible tenants pay rent.