Athlone HAP rental crisis continues, latest report shows
By Rebekah O'Reilly
There were no rental properties available within limits of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme during June , according to the latest Locked Out of the Market report.
The study, by the Simon Communities of Ireland, assesses properties available within both the standard HAP limits and the higher discretionary HAP limits, which allow local authorities to approve payments of up to 50% above the standard rate in Dublin and up to 35% above the standard rate elsewhere, including Athlone.
Athlone was among 12 study areas nationwide where no properties were available within these limits for any household category, marking the second consecutive report in which the town recorded zero qualifying properties and highlighting the continuing shortage of affordable rental accommodation for low-income households.
The survey found an average of 21 properties available to rent each day in Athlone over the three-day study period, but none were affordable within the applicable HAP limits for any household type examined, including single adults, couples, one-parent families with one child, or families with two children.
The report also highlights that many HAP households are increasingly required to make additional “top-up” payments directly to landlords where the HAP payment does not cover the full rent charged. These payments are made on top of the rent contribution households already pay to their local authority, placing further financial pressure on low-income renters.
On average, there were five one-bedroom properties, four two-bedroom homes, six three-bedroom properties and five four-bedroom homes available each day.
Monthly rents ranged from €1,000 to €2,600, with median rents of €1,300 for one-bedroom properties, €1,500 for two-bedroom homes, €2,150 for three-bedroom properties and €2,100 for four-bedroom homes.
No new properties within HAP limits became available during the survey period.
The report also found that Athlone's overall rental supply continued to shrink, with nine fewer properties available compared with the March 2026 survey. Nationally, seven of the 16 study areas recorded a decline in rental availability over the same period.
Across the country, just 20 properties were available to rent within HAP limits during the June survey, a 43% increase on March but still representing only 2% of all properties advertised for rent. Seventeen of those 20 properties were located across the three Dublin study areas.
Athlone joined Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Dundalk, Galway City Centre, Galway City Suburbs, Leitrim, Limerick City Centre, Limerick City Suburbs, Sligo, Portlaoise and Waterford City Centre in having no HAP properties available for any household category.
While eight study areas saw increases in rental supply, Athlone was among seven where availability fell, highlighting continuing pressure in regional rental markets.