Could we be evicted?

LegacyUser

I met a guy about a year ago and recently he moved in with me. I work, have one child and live in local authority housing for the past five years. He has a fairly well paid job and pays for his share of everything (and more). Things are going really well....

We want to put his name on the annual means form but we are worried that, as we will be above the cut-off figure for local authority housing, they will deem us no longer qualified and ask us to leave. We wouldn't mind, and would fully expect and accept, an increase in the rent, but as I say we're worried we'd be asked to leave.

I don't want to leave my home. I'm settled here, have great neighbours and friends here. So has my young son.

I don't want just to do nothing, as I know some people do, We want to pay our fair share.

Could the council possibly ask us to leave in these circumstances?

Nasty_Girl

I think you should talk to the council, just ring them up and ask.
Is it possible ye could put in to buy the house from them?

Santa Claus

Yes if you exceed the income threshold for local authority housing, then you could be asked to leave. Obviously with the high waiting lists for local authority housing it is more than likely that they would enforce their right to ask you to leave.

See the below link for information about buying your local authority home. You'r entitled to a 3% discount off the market value of the house for each year you've been a tenant so you'd be looking at a 15% discount if you've been there the full 5 years.
http://oasis.gov.ie/housing/buying_a_house_or_flat/buying_your_local_authority_house.html

Nevyn

The council may not want to sell the house and it maybe out of thier reach even
with a shared ownership mortguage.

I would suggest that you go talk to the welfare officer in your local clinc,
horrid that you would have to do so but they would have the current facts and how things stand.

Moving into rented private accomidtaion for a family is a nightmare and very expensive they may up the ammount of rent being paid while you try to find another home or buy that one.

I know you are trying to do the best for you in your lifes and are being honest
about your co habiting status the system should be there encourage this not
penalise it.

Victor

I would walk to Threshold and Citizens Information Centre

I don't think they would evict you, certainly not without giving you plenty of notice. They would however probably be looking for a rent increase (local authority rents tend to be per person, not per property).

billy the squid

I find it hard to believe that they would turf you out of the house for being honest enough to add a partner to the means form. I have never heard it happen before. It could be alot worse if you are "ratted" on though.

have a word with CIC (victors links) or make an appointment with one of your local councillors, If he/she asks questions, just tell him that he is afraid to move in until he knows that everything is above board. let it be known that you are doing your best to do the right thing.

shared ownership is not that big a comitment to be honest, you might have to come up with a sizable deposit but the repayments are not too harsh.

Nevyn

The despoits for shared ownership is not that much but you must have been
seen to have saved it over a space of time.
Do look into it if it a viable option for you .

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the good info...

Got a one-line reply from Threshold
- "No you will not be thrown out yee will be both means tested and all that will happen is your rent will go up"

Waiting for a reply from CIC.