Renting is a popular alternative to buying a home.  There are a number of options and many organisations that can provide guidance and advice.

South

• Impartial information is available on the Citizens Information website.  For further information please visit www.citizensinformation.ie – Renting a Home
• Threshold – National Housing Organisation’s website contains information on the rights of tenants, landlords, signing a lease, getting back deposits and ending a tenancy.  For further information please visit www.threshold.ie
• The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. HAP is available in all local authority areas and will eventually replace long-term Rent Supplement. For more detailed information about HAP including booklets for landlords (pdf) and tenants (pdf), along with a general information leaflet (pdf) visit hap.ie. Further information is also available from Citizens Information at: Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)
• Local authorities in Ireland are the main provider of social housing for people who need housing and cannot afford to buy their own homes.  For further information please contact your local authority – Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage– Local Authorities

North

• www.housingadviceni.org has been developed by Housing Rights Service and aims to provide reliable, independent housing advice and information to the public in Northern Ireland.
• Impartial information is also available on the NI Direct website.  For further information please visit NI Direct – Property and Housing
• The Northern Ireland Housing Executive(NIHE) offers a range of services to people living in socially rented, privately rented and owner occupied accommodation as well as supporting and working with a number of other public bodies.  For further information please visit www.nihe.gov.uk
• Housing Benefit is a Social Security benefit paid by the Housing Executive. It helps people on a low income pay their rent and rates. You do not need to be unemployed to get Housing Benefit. For further information please visit www.nihe.gov.uk – Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit housing element also helps people to pay their rent. Universal Credit is replacing Housing Benefit for all working-age claimants in Northern Ireland. Please visit –  Gov.uk Housing and Universal Credit
• Rate Rebate Scheme- You must apply separately for help with rates through this scheme if you are on Universal Credit. For more information on this please visit – NI Direct Rate Rebate Scheme
• Discretionary Housing Payment – If you rent from a private landlord and are entitled to the housing element of Universal Credit but it does not cover all of your rent, you may be able to get additional help with your rent from the NIHE. For further information please visit  NI Direct
• Housing Associations aim to provide affordable rented accommodation to people who need it.  All registered housing associations are members of  the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, NIFHA.   For further information please email info@nifha.org  or visit www.nifha.org

See also:

Irish Council for Social Housing – www.icsh.ie

Page last checked: July 2022

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur.  It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation: – North /  South

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.