The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has ordered a property management company to pay €14,750 in compensation to a mother after it unlawfully refused to complete her Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) application.

Adjudication officer Pat Brady described the circumstances as being “at the extreme of the spectrum of gravity”, finding that the respondent’s actions constituted a “clear breach of the act on the HAP ground”.

The woman who had been receiving HAP since 2018 was forced to leave her home with her children in March 2025 and sought refuge with a women’s support service.

She returned home when it was safe to do so, but the Local Authority had terminated her HAP and she was required to make a new application. Despite repeatedly asking the property management company to complete the necessary HAP form, it refused to do so.

In an email it expressed sympathy with the woman regarding her personal situation, however it said it was not “completing any more forms for HAP”. This administrative decision left the vulnerable family in a precarious financial position, facing mounting rent arrears and the terrifying prospect of homelessness.

Speaking during the case, the complainant, who was represented by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission described her situation as one of desperation.

The WRC found that the refusal to complete the HAP application amounted to discrimination on the housing assistance ground under the Equal Status Acts. It awarded the complainant €14,750 and directed the respondent to immediately complete her HAP application.

Brady said the situation bore all the signs of the company “‘having had enough’ of the complainant and simply deciding that it would not assist with her application”. He said it had “particularly petty” reasons for refusing to co-operate with the application, “and there is a suggestion of retribution for previous difficulties” with the woman.

Welcoming the landmark decision, Michael O’Neill, Head of Legal at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, emphasised the broader societal importance of the ruling. He noted that the WRC’s decisive finding sends a crucial message that individuals in receipt of state housing support are robustly protected from discrimination. Those providing accommodation, whether private landlords or corporate property management firms, must respect these fundamental statutory rights or face severe financial sanctions.

The woman at the centre of the case expressed hope that the decision would encourage anyone facing discrimination not to suffer in silence.

“After everything my children and I had already been through, I was simply trying to access the housing support we needed so we could rebuild our lives. Instead, I was left under enormous financial and emotional pressure at a time when we were already at our most vulnerable.

“There is help available, there are people who will listen, and there is practical and legal support to help you stand up for your rights.”

 

NB – This is a guide for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have an issue requiring legal advice, please contact any of the team at Nolan Farrell & Goff LLP, whose numbers can be found on our website www.nfg.ie, or email info@nfg.ie.