Athlone among areas with no rental properties available within HAP limits, report finds

Athlone is among 11 areas across the country where no rental properties were available within Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits in September, according to the latest Locked Out of the Market report from the Simon Communities of Ireland (SCI).

The quarterly report found that while seven properties were available to rent in Athlone in September, none fell within the rental limits of the HAP scheme, highlighting the ongoing difficulties facing people relying on housing support to secure accommodation locally.

Across the 16 areas surveyed, just 12 properties were available to rent within any of the HAP payment limits on the three dates examined in September.

The report identified 1,361 properties available to rent at any price across the 16 study areas. This represents an increase of 58 properties (4%) since June 2026 and 528 properties (63%) compared with September 2025.

However, the increase in overall rental availability has not translated into greater access to affordable accommodation for HAP recipients.

Alongside Athlone, 10 other areas recorded no properties within HAP limits.

These included Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise and Waterford City Centre.

Compared with the previous report in June 2026, Athlone was among 10 study areas which recorded an increase in the number of properties available to rent.

Seven properties were available in the town in September.

This is the third Locked Out of the Market report carried out under the new legislative framework introduced through the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, which came into effect on March 1.