Rent allowance - housing list

Mallyho

Hi. I have been living in a rented house for the last 15 years. It is a small 2 bedroom cottage. Last year for the first time I became unemployed. And I have received rent allowance since then.
I have never been on the council housing list, and am very happy here. I am 61, and have 2 grown daughters who visit from UK regularly, so really need that extra bedroom.
I received a letter today telling me that I must register with the local authority for housing, or I will lose the rent allowance.
There are a few of those small local authority 1 bedroom houses vacant in the area, (locally known as "the old folks houses"), and they have been vacant for quite a while. I am fairly sure that when I register, I will be offered one of those. I really dont want it, I thought I would see out my days in this house. It has been home to me for 15 years.
Have I any choice in the matter? Do I have to take it if it is offered? And if I refuse it, the rent allowance will be stopped?

Techno_Toaster

Mallyho wrote: »

Hi. I have been living in a rented house for the last 15 years. It is a small 2 bedroom cottage. Last year for the first time I became unemployed. And I have received rent allowance since then.
I have never been on the council housing list, and am very happy here. I am 61, and have 2 grown daughters who visit from UK regularly, so really need that extra bedroom.
I received a letter today telling me that I must register with the local authority for housing, or I will lose the rent allowance.
There are a few of those small local authority 1 bedroom houses vacant in the area, (locally known as "the old folks houses"), and they have been vacant for quite a while. I am fairly sure that when I register, I will be offered one of those. I really dont want it, I thought I would see out my days in this house. It has been home to me for 15 years.
Have I any choice in the matter? Do I have to take it if it is offered? And if I refuse it, the rent allowance will be stopped?

This is from the Citizens Information page http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/local_authority_and_social_housing/applying_for_local_authority_housing.html

"If you are offered a house or flat that you do not want, you can refuse it. However, if the local authority thinks that you do not have a good reason for refusing the offer of the house, it may reduce your priority on the waiting list, particularly if you refuse more than one offer."

You can refuse it 3 times as far as i'm aware in total after that you must accept it

There are other schemes where you can rent your current house and if the landlord agrees the council and you take over the payments. Again you will need to look into it to see if you are eligable.

wmpdd3

I dont know what part of the country you are in but the wait for council houses is years in most citys.

LegacyUser

hiya, yes you do need to register, and you will be called for an interview where you will be asked why you want to be put on the list, you must give a reason, please note that saying you were forced to is not an option, something like you havent the means to buy your own home is fine...I have never heard of anyone recieve a house, it is a big ask actually to have them buy homes and it will prob be 10 years before you even here from them again, do not panic, its your life, turn it down if its offered you have a least that much say in your life on the system!!...hope that helps..

Tio07

Hi Mallyho, hope ya got sorted but if not here is some info about the Rental Accommodation Scheme which might be of help to you:

If you are getting Rent Supplement for a long period and you are in need of long-term housing, you may be eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). The scheme is run by local authorities. The local authority makes the final decision regarding who is eligible under the scheme. In general, people who are getting Rent Suplement for more than 18 months are considered for RAS.

Under the scheme local authorities draw up contracts with landlords to provide housing for an agreed term for people with a long-term housing need. The local authority pays the rent directly to the landlord. You may continue to contribute to your rent but you pay this contribution to your local authority, not to your landlord.

The key elements of the scheme are:
• Local authorities pay the full rent to the landlord on behalf of the tenant
• Landlords must register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and the tenancies are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (pdf).
• The property must meet minimum standards for private rental accommodation.
• Deposits are not required since the local authority has entered into a contract with the landlord.

Further information is available on the website of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, including an explanatory leaflet for landlords (pdf) and a list of RAS contacts in local authorities.

yellowtrout

Tio07 wrote: »

Hi Mallyho, hope ya got sorted but if not here is some info about the Rental Accommodation Scheme which might be of help to you:

If you are getting Rent Supplement for a long period and you are in need of long-term housing, you may be eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). The scheme is run by local authorities. The local authority makes the final decision regarding who is eligible under the scheme. In general, people who are getting Rent Suplement for more than 18 months are considered for RAS.

Under the scheme local authorities draw up contracts with landlords to provide housing for an agreed term for people with a long-term housing need. The local authority pays the rent directly to the landlord. You may continue to contribute to your rent but you pay this contribution to your local authority, not to your landlord.

The key elements of the scheme are:
• Local authorities pay the full rent to the landlord on behalf of the tenant
• Landlords must register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and the tenancies are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (pdf).
• The property must meet minimum standards for private rental accommodation.
• Deposits are not required since the local authority has entered into a contract with the landlord.

Further information is available on the website of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, including an explanatory leaflet for landlords (pdf) and a list of RAS contacts in local authorities.

Sorry that is incorrect. The council does not pay the full rent. They negotiate the rent with the landlord. I know-I've been in this position.

Tio07

yellowtrout wrote: »

Sorry that is incorrect. The council does not pay the full rent. They negotiate the rent with the landlord. I know-I've been in this position.

I stand corrected, I took that information from citizens information website.