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	Rent supplement levels should be increased to match the current letting price for properties around the country, a leading homeless charity has said.</p>
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	The Simon Communities of Ireland have called on  the Government for &quot;an immediate increase&quot; in payments as part of its Pre-Budget Submission 2015.</p>
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	The report explains that for many single people looking for one-bedroom apartments, the starting price is often above the rent supplement cap for that area.</p>
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	&quot;On the rare occasion where a landlord will accept rent supplement, it is almost impossible to find a one-bedroom flat that falls within the supplement limits,&quot; said Niamh Randall of the Simon Community.</p>
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	In Cork city centre, the benefit is capped at &euro;485, but the starting price for an apartment is &euro;550.</p>
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	On average, apartments in Dublin cost between &euro;880 and &euro;1000 per month, despite the rent cap remaining at &euro;520.</p>
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	Some rented properties in Sligo town are priced between &euro;100 and &euro;200 more than the rent supplement of &euro;400.</p>
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	Applications</p>
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	The charity also highlighted the problems with the  administration of the current scheme.</p>
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	Some people have reportedly waited for seven months while their applications were being processed.</p>
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	&quot;Landlords are reluctant to accept rent supplement because of delays in processing applications, poor communication or lack of clarity in relation to the Department of Social Protection decisions,&quot; said Ms Randall.</p>
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	Another case involved a family of five, who weren&#39;t notified their rent supplement had been cancelled until the landlord rang to say that it hadn&#39;t been paid.</p>
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	They subsequently found out their rent was &euro;50 over the &euro;950 limit and when the landlord refused to drop the price, the family were forced to move out.</p>
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	The number of properties available to rent increased by 4,750 in the past 12 months.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/homeless-charity-calls-for-an-increase-in-rent-aid-30527645.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/homeless-charity-calls-for-an-increase-in-rent-aid-30527645.html</a></p>
