Rent relief desperate situation

beagle001

Hi Newbie here,
I am looking for a bit of advice in regards to my current situation.
Basically I got laid off in December 6 weeks shy of redundancy so no payout,we were all caught by surprise even in the current economic climate.
I have been renting a house through a friend since June,the rent is 550 a month as it is an affordable house and he lives elsewhere.
I receive €196 a week only income coming into the house,I am recently married but my wife is from overseas outside the EU and we are waiting on her stamp 4 visa to be processed,she is dependant on me as she cannot look for work without a pps number yet.
I have sent countless cv`s out to employers but it is a depressing situation as we all know on the jobs front and no luck so far.
We have maxed our credit card and had no savings left to rely on,both my folks are pensioners and I could not ask them for help as they really don`t have it.
I asked my mate(landlord) to fill out rent relief forms as he uses this address as his principle primary residence I thought this would be fine but he is too afraid to do this as he said they will call out and see he does not live here and should not be renting out the house.
It was all fine renting last year as I thought I had a good secure job but now it is a nitemare,can`t even afford petrol.
I am sorry this is a long post but I was wandering if we moved house could we claim rent allowance as he is not providing receipts,could we still claim rent relief under the threshold 66 per week my area and take a chance they will not call out or am I snookered.
I don`t want to get him in any trouble for renting out his affordable house as he had no choice but to rent it.
Constructive advice would be appreciated.
Cheers

janmc

Without any comments on tax evasion etc etc, he's entitled to rent a room under the rent a room scheme - why doesn't he say you're renting a room from him instead of the whole house? He can earn up to €10K/annum that way tax free. (Unless this doesn't apply to affordable housing? Someone else may be able to clarify this)

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/housing/owning-a-home/home-owners/rent_a_room_scheme

Otherwise, you don't need him to sign anything - you can just submit his info for rent relief (you don't need his PPS number either).

Go to revenue.ie.

Register for PAYE anytime. You will be sent a password within a week or so. You can claim back your rent relief for the previous 5 years online with the click of a mouse.

No forms are needed. You don't even need yout landlords pps, just his name and address you were renting at.

Forget about him getting into trouble and worry about yourself.

The revenue don't check every single landlord I doubt anyway.

unJustMary

Lads, this question is about rent-allowance I think, rather than rent-relief. And the landlord is guilty of breaking the law in regard to his affordable house (I'm sure that one of the conditions is that s/he has to live there for the first however long.)

To get rent-allowance, Welfare would be calling to the house. I don't think they would necessarily know if was an affordable house, or where the owner stands in terms of how long he's lived there. (Could be wrong though.) However I'm pretty sure that to get rent-allowance you would also have to go on the council housing list, and I'm sure they do know the affordable-housing status.

TBH, I think your best bet is moving (and good luck trying to get somewhere that's within the rent-allowance thresholds!), or talking him into dropping the rent (he's a friend, you don't want to I know ... what what choice do you have!).

Next stop = Vincent de Paul, or extended family. Sorry.

Trish2007

Its the CWO that deals with rent supplement and they dont call out to the house that you are living in, or at least they dont in my area. As previous poster said you are probably better off finding new accomodation that is within the limits.

greensleep

You now have to be living in rented accomadation for 6 months before you can claim rent allowance. New rule brought out before christmas.

Gatling

Trish2007 wrote: »

Its the CWO that deals with rent supplement and they dont call out to the house that you are living in, or at least they dont in my area. .

yeah your local CWO deals the rent allowence and yes you have to be accepted on to the county council housing list first before they will give you rent allowence followed by an inspection from the welfare thought from the previous post this dosent always happen ,
and being a single male or female you will only be entitled to around 25-30 euro a week ,the CWO will recommend you find a room to rent rather than a house or apartment

lolaweiler

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and have a question I hope someone can help me with.

I am considering renting a room as a tenant under the 'Rent a Room Scheme'.

My question is.. Does anyone know if after paying rent for six months under this scheme,Will I be then entitled to rent allowance as I have to have six months private rented accommodation? does this qualify?

Thanks in advance.