1668. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to change the practice of county councils being permitted to use discretionary powers to force sole traders seeking housing assistance payment to produce audited accounts given the financial costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56232/26]

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

The prescribed social housing application form sets out the documentary evidence required for self employed persons income which include the following:

- A minimum of 2 years’ accounts with an Auditor’s Report, and

- A Notice of Assessment and/or Self-Assessment Acknowledgement letter for the preceding 12 months

Given that the over-arching aim of social housing support is to ensure that support is provided to those households who cannot meet their accommodation costs from their own resources, it is vital that as clear a picture as possible of a household’s earning capacity is established when they apply for that support.

A degree of discretion is permitted to the local authorities as to the extent of documentation the authority deems necessary to ascertain a household’s average income over the preceding 12 months in order to satisfy themselves of the household’s true income pattern.

Decisions on the qualification of households for social housing support, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.