Housing Assistance Payment

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support provided by all local authorities, through which local authorities can provide housing assistance for households who qualify for social housing support. 

Under HAP local authorities will make a monthly payment to a landlord on behalf of HAP recipients (subject to terms and conditions including maximum rent limits per household size). 
The HAP recipient will then pay a rent contribution to the local authority. The rent contribution paid by tenants is based on their income and ability to pay.
If you wish to apply for HAP applicants must be on their Local Authority’s Housing waiting list before they can complete the online application form.
 

Apply Online for Housing Assistance Payment

The HAP Shared Services Centre has developed a new online Application Portal for people who are eligible for Social Housing and wish to apply for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

The online portal is now live for Tipperary County Council applicants. This will mean that any person who is qualified for Social Housing and wishing to apply for HAP can do so online. Your landlord will also submit their application online. Those who have already applied do not have to apply again.

Online applications are only necessary for new applicants or existing tenants who are moving to a new HAP property. The new online portal will make the application process more efficient and easier for all. 

An online application ensures that all necessary information is submitted at the time of the application including all necessary documentation. As a result, applications and documents will be dealt with in a timely and efficient manner.

Applicants for HAP must be on their Local Authority’s Housing waiting list before they can complete the online application form – a valid Social Housing number is required for the application.

Points to note before you apply:

• You can only apply for HAP if you are approved for Social Housing support. In your HAP application please ensure you choose the correct Local Authority which has approved your Social Housing application.
• The family details on your Social Housing file and HAP form must match. If not, please update your Housing file prior to applying for HAP.
• Ensure you have all required documentation saved to your device before you begin the application process.
• You must find your own accommodation in the private rented market
• HAP does not pay deposits or rent in advance (ensure your prospective Landlord/Agent is made aware of this)
• Landlords are paid monthly in arrears on the last Wednesday of every month by electronic fund transfer to the nominated bank account
• HAP do not pay arrears; you will have to pay the rent until your HAP payments commence.
• Your application will not be considered valid until all required and correct documentation has been received both from the applicant and landlord and is assessed as being acceptable and valid
• Under Placefinder, ensure you have been previously approved

Am I eligible to apply?

To apply for HAP you must be qualified for social housing support, see how to qualify for social housing support.

You must be approved for social housing support before you can apply online. 

How it works?

If you are eligible as an approved housing applicant, you must find your own private rented accommodation (within specific rent caps and market rents). 

We will pay the landlord directly and the tenant will pay a rent to us based on the Tipperary County Council differential rent scheme. 

The rent will be based on your weekly household income and your family composition applicable and works in a similar way to the differential rents charged for local authority houses.

What accommodation is eligible? 

Accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits. These limits are based on your household and the rental market in your area. Tipperary County Council will let you know what the rent limits are. 

Your tenancy agreement will be, between you and your landlord. Tipperary County Council is not your landlord. Your landlord is the person you make the rental agreement with and who the local authority pays the HAP payment to.

For more information please see the Tenant & Landlord documents in the supporting documents below.

Placefinder Applicants

If you are eligible for standard HAP under the above conditions and are currently homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, you may be eligible for Placefinder support. 

You must be assessed and approved for this support by the Homeless Team before you can apply for Placefinder HAP support. The HAP tenancy terms and conditions outlined above and advised on Hap.ie website apply to Placefinder tenants. 

You can contact the Homeless team by email: homelessteam@tipperarycoco.ie

How to Apply for HAP Online

• How to Apply for HAP Online for Tenants - Video
• HAP Online Portal Procedure for Landlords - Video
• Documents a Tenant needs to have ready before starting the online process - Video
• Documents a Landlord needs to have ready before starting the online process - Video
• HAP Online Technical Frequently Asked Questions for Tenants (Word document)
• HAP Online Technical Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords / Agents (Word document)

Apply for HAP Online 

Please Note: if you are inactive on the portal for 5 minutes, you will be timed out and your information will be lost unless you have saved it.

How to Pay your HAP Weekly Rent

HAP App - download in Play Store/ Apple App Store  (HAP Recipient ID No. and PIN required)
Online at hapcollections@limerick.ie (HAP Recipient ID No. and PIN required)
Phone: (061) 529654 (HAP Recipient ID No. and PIN required)
HAP Billpay Card in any post office or POSTPOINT shop

If you require confirmation of PIN/HAP Recipient ID, please contact: HAP Shared Services Centre 

Phone: (061) 556600 (Dial 1 for tenants or dial 2 for landlords)

Email: hapcollections@limerick.ie

Contact Information

HAP Tipperary 

For general queries not relating to payments please contact HAP General Queries on 0818 06 5000 or email hap@tipperarycoco.ie

For further information see the Housing Assistance Payment website

HAP Shared Services Centre

Phone: +353 61 556600
Option 1 for tenants
Option 2 for landlords