HAP renter says 'nothing' in the budget to help ease financial burden

By Cate McCurry, PA

A renter and mother-of-two has said there is “nothing” in the budget for her to help ease the financial pressure of paying rent.

Marianna Broughan, 37, lives in a rented property in Athy, Co Kildare with her five-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son.

She receives Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and pays the rest of the rent herself.

She has been living in the same property in Athy for the last seven years, but says she needs to find a bigger house.

Ms Broughan receives child benefit for both her children and will benefit from the double payments in November and December, but will not benefit from the rent tax credit as she receives HAP.

“I didn’t get anything in the budget to help me pay rent. I often have to use the money I get from child benefit to top up rent payments,” she said.

“I’m lucky that my landlady doesn’t increase rent as much. We are trying to find somewhere else to live as it’s a small house.

“I was on sick leave for a number of months, and only recently getting the working family payment but it has been a struggle.

“I pay €65 to HAP plus €112 per month to a landlady. I have has to use child benefit to pay the landlady as I have nothing left at the end of the week.

“The energy and fuel bills and even supermarket bills are too high.

“Any help for rent would be great. If I could get more help with HAP, that would be something. Getting the double child benefit twice will cover Christmas.”

Ms Broughan said she has been looking for another home for more than a year, but the rents are too high.

She also wants to stay in Athy, where her children are settled.

“I don’t want to go too far as the children are settled in school and my son is getting the support he needs. But I need a house that is bigger,” she added.

“I have been looking for a year, but have had setbacks on my health so I can’t move any time soon. The house prices (in Athy) are around €1,800, and I’m only paying €1,200 on my house.

“I’ll get some money from other parts of the budget but nothing for paying rent.”