232. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any cases whereby HAP payments were reinstated or reimbursed to landlords during the Covid-19 moratorium period, where the HAP payments had earlier been suspended due to a tenant not paying their contribution to the local authority, but the landlord was prevented through temporary Covid-19 Government policy from issuing an eviction notice to the tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44862/26]

From 27 March 2020, under emergency measures introduced into law to protect tenants during the COVID-19 emergency period, tenants could not be forced to leave their rental accommodation, other than in exceptional circumstances.

During the Covid-19 emergency, the HAP Debt Management Process (DMP) was suspended from March 2020 and partially re-commenced in October 2020. This meant non-payment of differential rent by a tenant during that time did not affect payments to HAP landlords. Tenants were, however, expected to continue to pay their rent with supports available for those financially impacted by Covid.

Tenants that incurred arrears during the Covid-19 emergency were given additional time to engage with the HAP Debt Management Unit to clear their arrears, as well as access to payment plans as a specific Covid measure. The standard debt management process was reinstated from 6 September 2021.

Tenancies that had already reached cessation stage prior to the suspension of the DMP process were not covered by the suspension.

Where payment of HAP is ceased for non-payment of differential rent, tenants will have to pay all arrears in full to re-join the HAP Scheme.

Since 1 May 2023 when a HAP tenant defaults on their differential rent payment to the local authority they have been offered the option of a payment plan to assist them in maintaining their tenancy and allow the HAP payment to the landlord to continue.

Tenants in the HAP scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme.

If the tenant defaults on payment of differential rent or the payment plan, under the Landlord Payment Guarantee, the HAP payment to the landlord is guaranteed for a maximum of 12 months or less if the tenancy ends. The Landlord Guarantee will only be applicable to tenancies reaching suspension stage of the HAP debt management process from the 1 May 2023.