Landlords can no longer refuse to accept rent supplement.

Under new equality laws - those receiving an allowance towards the cost of their accommodation - are protected against discrimination.

Anyone who advertises a property saying that rent allowance is NOT accepted or who refuses to rent to someone on rent allowance could be fined up to fifteen thousand euro.

Irish Human Rights Equality Commissioner Emily Logan explains: “People in receipt of rent supplement, housing support payment or other social welfare payments can no longer be discriminated against in relation to the provision of accommodation or related services.

“So people might be aware when they go onto well-known property websites they will see in capital letters, ‘rent allowance not accepted’.

“So that is now illegal to do.”