More than nine out of ten rental properties are priced beyond the reach of those on state supports.

A study by the Simon Communities found that just 7% of properties available in 11 locations during August were priced at or below Rent Supplement or Housing Assistance Payments levels.

Single people fared particularly badly with just two properties affordable to them in total, but none in any of the five major city centres.

The Simon Communities are reiterating the call of a number of homeless charities for the Rent Supplement limits to be increased to help provide rent certainty in Budget 2016.

Rent Supplement / Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) limits have not been increased since June 2013.

Simon says the low number of properties available to those on assistance marks a decrease on already low levels seen in a study carried out last May.

Niamh Randall, Simon spokesperson said the locking out of single people from the rental market is particularly worrying since 44% of those on the official housing list are single. 

"Rent Supplement/Hap limits are simply too low as rents continue to escalate and this is causing people to become homeless as well as preventing people from leaving homelessness behind. These limits must be increased and the long awaited rent certainty measures must be introduced in Budget 2016... This is about political will."