WRC 'unaware' of new rent allowance responsibility

The Workplace Relations Commission has said it does not have the resources to adjudicate on cases of alleged discrimination by landlords against prospective tenants in receipt of rent allowance.

The Irish Human Rights Commission today launched a campaign informing prospective tenants who are discriminated against that they can take a case to the Workplace Relations Commission, which can make a maximum award of €15,000.

Director General of the WRC Kieran Mulvey said the Commission was never briefed on this new responsibility and does not have the resources to deal with such complaints.

The Irish Human Rights Commission campaign is warning landlords they can no longer discriminate against prospective tenants on the basis of being in receipt of housing assistance or rent supplement.

Landlords will be in breach of equality legislation if they include the words "no rent allowance accepted" in letting adverts.

The commission has published information for landlords, tenants and accommodation advertisers to alert them to the new legal protection for those in receipt of State supports.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice has said that the inclusion of "housing assistance" as a new ground for protection under equal status legislation was announced in February 2015.

The spokesperson said that there would have been a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, including the WRC, in advance of the provision coming affect on 1 January this year.

The new rules means that people in receipt of housing assistance, rent supplement, or other social welfare payments can no longer be discriminated against in relation to the provision of accommodation.

Chief Commissioner Emily Logan said her office is aware that the practice of posting discriminatory adverts continues, and it negatively impacts on families in receipt of State support by excluding them from the private rental market.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Logan said the new legislation is an "important first step" towards ending barriers for people on welfare accessing rental accommodation.

Homeless and housing group Focus Ireland said "many landlords are continuing to advertise that rent supplement tenants will not be considered.

"We have been contacted by a number of people who are facing homelessness unless they can find new accommodation and face this illegal barrier," it added.

Source : RTE 26/02/2016