rent allowance decrease - what to do now?

joe9k5

we're yet to be assessed by the local Housing (waiting like 5 months already) but reducing the limits puts us in an awkward situation. we have the lease which will expire at the end of March that we pay e600/month, and very little chance that the landlord will reduce our rent by e105
as the rent reviews are due soon, what would be the best option for us (2+1) to do? if we're to move we will lose the deposit and won't be able to get one for the new place. having at the moment less than e100/week to live we're struggling as it is, don't really know what to do now

please don't say anything that would lead this thread to closing, this is a serious situation, no discussing the government and its decisions

chucken1

I dont understand how 2 adults and one child have less than 100e a week

joe9k5

that's what left after paying loans and electricity+heating

the GALL

€100 a week
1.start with lidl then aldi,
2.then knock off lights when you leave the room
3.put on an extra jumper when its cold
4.give up the drink
5.give up smoking
6.if you have sky get rid of it use terrestrial (sp)
7.move to cheaper accommodation
8.maybe a part time job or even full time(I know there's a recession on)
It's just a start I know but it will help to remove some of the helpless feeling

joe9k5

good God, please stay on the topic. we have no tv at all, don't smoke, can't remember last time we had alcohol in our mouths. I've asked a very specific question, so if you don't intend to stay on topic don't bother answering at all.

as for "move to cheaper accommodation" if you'd read what I wrote you'd know we won't have the money to put as the deposit, not to mention we face paying for the last two months of the lease for breaching the contract. and the moment you or anyone else offer me a job I'd be the happiest man on earth, it's not like I choose to stay at home and do nothing.

DonalK1981

Try explaining your situation to your landlord. If he is happy with you as a tenant, he may be willing to reduce it in line with the allowance. If not tell him you are no longer able to afford the rent and you will be giving him your notice and want the return of the deposit in May when you will have to move out.

dollyk

can you reduce your loans ? , or ask for them to be put on hold till you get assessed. Go to see someone in the svdp, their office is just beside the shop across from Laurence centre. Make an appointment for mabs. go to the local clinic, and ask to see someone. Maybe this wont help, IDK but it wont do much harm either. Speak to your landlord and see if he will help out..

joe9k5

@DonalK: I'm trying to explore what other options I have. it's an agency, we didn't really see nor talk to the real landlord, and the agency folks don't really have the good reputation

@Dollyk: we spoke to mabs and have the loans reduced already. SVDP won't help us as they tend to deal with more urgent needs, our situation is not as bad as some other folks, who need help more than us.

Thanks for all the advices but I'm still hoping someone could jump in and explain what will happen now regarding the Rent Allowance after the review, I am not going to lie that our rent is lower that it really is, and from what I've heard there will be no leniency when it comes to that. I don't want to wake up one day and be told the RA has been cancelled as we won't have the means to survive another month. And before someone asks - we don't have any living family in Ireland so we cannot move to live with them.

theg81der

Could you maybe contact https://www.prtb.ie/ and http://www.threshold.ie/ and maybe http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/ arm yourself with knowledge about your rights before you go to to the landlord.

I`m not 100% but I think a deposit is to cover property damage not loss of income, you need to check that. Given the situation and change in circumstances maybe your landlord will be open to discussion.

I have to say thou if it came between servicing my loans and ensuring my family have a roof over their heads I know what I would be prioritising. I would try to negotiate with the bank for the remaining months of your contract.

Good luck OP!

wmpdd3

This is probably no help, but I would write to the agency and ask them to reduce the rent to the new limit, ask them to reply in writing.

As we all know, if you walk into the CWO, the first thing they ask for is a letter stating your problem.

All estate agents must be in the same boat. Its up to themselves wheather they want empty properties or lower rent. Could you landlord rent you place to someone with 2+2? If so they may cancel your lease and look for someone with a higher rent allowance payment.

joe9k5

@theg81der: from what I've been told in Citizen Information, breaking the contract before its end will not stop the agency from collecting/recovering the money until it's ended. Maybe you're right and they are not able to use the deposit, but I'm 100% sure they will do everything they can not to give it back or will wait with returning it after they're somehow forced which could take some time.

@wmpdd3: that's what I'm going to do, and you're right, there's more people in the same boat, that's why I'm really disappointed this hasn't been properly addressed so far. People in Citizen Information don't have a clue how this is going to be implemented

snubbleste

There was a male in receipt of rent supplement on the wireless earlier, who stated he'd received a missive from his CWO. It stated that he had to renegotiate his rent downward or seek alternative accomodation below the ceiling, before end March. Failure to do either would result in a cessation of the supplement.

OP, I'd advise you to consult your CWO to ascertain when the new limits apply to your case and proceed accordingly.

Jesus Shaves

the GALL wrote: »

€100 a week
1.start with lidl then aldi,
2.then knock off lights when you leave the room
3.put on an extra jumper when its cold
4.give up the drink
5.give up smoking
6.if you have sky get rid of it use terrestrial (sp)
7.move to cheaper accommodation
8.maybe a part time job or even full time(I know there's a recession on)
It's just a start I know but it will help to remove some of the helpless feeling

You are a muppet for this response

chasm

I think if i were in this situation i would write to the agency explaining the situation regarding the decrease in rent allowance due to come into affect shortly and state that you would appreciate it if they would consider a decrease in the rent. If they agree, fair enough, if they refuse, You say your lease is up at the end of March anway, and as your rent review will occur soon perhaps you could explain to your CWO that you have approached the agency to negotiate a decrease and they have refused and ask if they would give you leeway till the end of your lease so you can get your deposit back and move to cheaper accommodation.

A Disgrace

chasm wrote: »

I think if i were in this situation i would write to the agency explaining the situation regarding the decrease in rent allowance due to come into affect shortly and state that you would appreciate it if they would consider a decrease in the rent. If they agree, fair enough, if they refuse, You say your lease is up at the end of March anway, and as your rent review will occur soon perhaps you could explain to your CWO that you have approached the agency to negotiate a decrease and they have refused and ask if they would give you leeway till the end of your lease so you can get your deposit back and move to cheaper accommodation.

The problem is, where is the cheaper accomodation?

Take a person living in single accomodation in Dublin. Most likely they already have a rent of (up to) €530 per month, which is not a huge amount and probably means they're already living in a bedsit. Now they have to leave their home (if they can't renegotiate, which to be fair, seems very unlikely considering the new rental limit is €475) and find somewhere else that both falls under the limit, AND accepts rent allowance.

A quick look on Daft finds less than 30 properties for under €500, and even less for €475 that do.

So, you have approx 100,000 people on rent allowance, which on average would mean at least 30,000 in Dublin. All fighting for 30 flats.

The arguments are to move home or to share if you don't get lucky. Well, I've been in this position, and I don't have a family home and when I was unemployed, I spent 10 months searching for a share that would take a rent allowance claimant, and despite stating they would, they'd always favour a working tenant.

I'm interested in seeing how people fare here and if the local CWO's give any sort of leeway, because on principle I find it a disgrace that they reduced the limits (the contribution is fair enough) and expect people to leave their homes in such an immediate manner.

Rather than locking this thread, could the Mods please move it to the accom/property forum if required? This issue is going to become quite a big deal when the rental reviews occur in a few weeks, and people deserve to know

maryk123

The only thing I can say is that all landlords are going to be in the same position they are going to lose tenants if the dont reduce the rent. This isnt just going to affect your rent its going to affect the whole country.

Dont forget here its the GOVERNMENT who dropped the rent limits and did it very sneaky indeed. It wasnt announced in the budget and was just brought in without any notice. It wont effect everyone now its when the reviews start which is clever because not everyone will be hit together. Its a massive drop in some areas though.

Landlords have had it good for years its about time they hit a bit of reality and dropped their rents remember it was the rent allowance that set rents in a lot of areas - landlords will have no choice but to reduce their rent.

I was listenting to the radio the other day and single people are beginning to share accommodation now as its cheaper and share the bills also one lone parent came on and said she is now sharing with another lone parent to split bills etc and cheaper rent so people are going to have to look at different options. but for the government to increase the minimum contribution to 30 for single and 35 for couples and then reduce the limit is disgraceful.

deelite

joe9k5 wrote: »

we're yet to be assessed by the local Housing (waiting like 5 months already) but reducing the limits puts us in an awkward situation. we have the lease which will expire at the end of March that we pay e600/month, and very little chance that the landlord will reduce our rent by e105
decisions

I'm probably missing something but I thought in order to get rent allowance you had to be on the housing list. I would contact your local authority and explain your situation again and the urgency of this matter. Your local TD can help with regards to local authority housing. Not sure where you live but the Dublin City Council have a pilot project running called Choice Based lettings these are advertised on their website and in the local newspapers. You mention 2 +1 so you would probably be offered 2 bedroom accommodation or a massionette. Could I also suggesting walking around the area you wish to live and taking the addresses of all the boarded up properties and asking the council about it.

As for the landlord most landlords are decreasing their rent to keep tenants its better for them to have somebody living in their property - for both financial and security reasons.

Best of luck please let us know how you get on.

joe9k5

@deelite: you don't have to (if there's been a change in your circumstances when you were previously capable of paying the rent and now you're not), but it helps. I'm waiting to be assessed, it's been over 5 months already. As for my location, I'm in Limerick, and at e500 there's not too much choices, but as you said, more people and landlords are/will be in the same position soon.

joe9k5

I spoke to the landlord (got the contact for him from the neighbours) and he said he'd rather keep the house unoccupied for couple months than lower the rent even by e1. This is beyond my comprehension really.

On a side note, I spoke to the person in Health Centre and they said they will be issuing letters in two weeks and people will have six weeks then for either finding a lower priced accommodation or negotiating lower rent.

In other words it will take something like two months from now for current claimants to have their rate of Rent Allowance reduced.

Rasmus

joe9k5 wrote: »

On a side note, I spoke to the person in Health Centre and they said they will be issuing letters in two weeks and people will have six weeks then for either finding a lower priced accommodation or negotiating lower rent.

In other words it will take something like two months from now for current claimants to have their rate of Rent Allowance reduced.

How are they planning in implementing it? A letter from the landlord stating what rent you pay or what?

joe9k5

She didn't know, she said everything will be explained in the letter we receive.

Jesus Shaves

joe9k5 wrote: »

She didn't know, she said everything will be explained in the letter we receive.

you have to bring in a new contract/rent book from the landlord

joe9k5

Went to see the officer again today and got some news. My lease is up on the 20st of March and I was told that I will have 8 weeks since then to either negotiate a rent reduction or find a cheaper accommodation. and the important bit - they will still be paying us during this 8 weeks period. Hope this will help someone

keredern

joe9k5 wrote: »

Went to see the officer again today and got some news. My lease is up on the 20st of March and I was told that I will have 8 weeks since then to either negotiate a rent reduction or find a cheaper accommodation. and the important bit - they will still be paying us during this 8 weeks period. Hope this will help someone

Hi OP, this is quite correct!;)

No CWO should stop paying a rent supplement in such circumstances without giving a reasonable period of time to the claimant to renegotiate or find alternative accommodation.

Since the introduction of the new limits, the guidelines issued allow a maximum of 13 weeks for a claimant to do the above.

OP I'm delighted you have been given some great advice by your CWO. You will not lose your deposit now that you do not need to break your lease.

Do remember that an exceptional need can always be applied for if you are unable to fund a deposit from your own resources, & where a genuine need is established, may be awarded!

The very best of luck & I really hope you manage to find some work soon.

bubbuz

My letter arrived today, I'm a full time single father of 2 girls and my previous rent cap was 147.50 p/w, the letter I received today states that the new rent cap for lone parents with 2 children is now 126.90 p/w and was informed in the letter to approach my landlord and ask him for a voluntary rent reduction ( I really cant see many landlords agreeing to such a reduction ). I called the lady at the CWS who informed me that if my landlord does not agree then I will be given 8 weeks notice till my R/A is stopped unless I find accommodation suiting the new rent cap. Straight away I was looking at properties on daft etc and the only places I could find within this amount would NOT except R/A.

Hmmmmmmm Think a whole heap of trouble lies ahead for tenants and landlords........... NOW WHERE'S MY GOD DAMN TENT ( if we don't laugh we'll cry hey)

MariMel

I totally understand everyones frustration on this matter.
Ive to leave my accommodation in just over 4 weeks due to not being able to make the rent. (my rent has been paid up to date so there is no arrears)
My landlord like many many others, will not reduced the rent and would rather leave their properties empty than take the reduction. (this house was empty for over 6 months before i moved in)
My own rent supplement rate has been reduced from €468 pm to €390.
There are NO suitable accommodation in the entire county that falls within that rate on daft unless I would consider moving in with students or take a one bed flat at other end of county. Neither of which is possible when you are 36 and need a second bedroom for my child who stays at weekends and visits during the week.

Does anyone know when each area decides to do their rent reviews?

MariMel

bubbuz wrote: »

Hmmmmmmm Think a whole heap of trouble lies ahead for tenants and landlords........... NOW WHERE'S MY GOD DAMN TENT ( if we don't laugh we'll cry hey)

I feel you......my friend joked once that he had a caravan I could borrow....
I tell you....its looking more and more like a possibility.

gizmorox

joe9k5 wrote: »

we're yet to be assessed by the local Housing (waiting like 5 months already) but reducing the limits puts us in an awkward situation. we have the lease which will expire at the end of March that we pay e600/month, and very little chance that the landlord will reduce our rent by e105
as the rent reviews are due soon, what would be the best option for us (2+1) to do? if we're to move we will lose the deposit and won't be able to get one for the new place. having at the moment less than e100/week to live we're struggling as it is, don't really know what to do now

please don't say anything that would lead this thread to closing, this is a serious situation, no discussing the government and its decisions

Appeal,appeal,appeal it,I am!! my landlord won't reduce the rent by €175 a month and I'd be left with less than €100 a week for myself and two children,boy 14,girl 12.We live in a two bed terrace! It's a bullying tactic to try to force landlords to lower rents and we're the ones that will be the victims in the end.

donalg1

joe9k5 wrote: »

@DonalK: I'm trying to explore what other options I have. it's an agency, we didn't really see nor talk to the real landlord, and the agency folks don't really have the good reputation

@Dollyk: we spoke to mabs and have the loans reduced already. SVDP won't help us as they tend to deal with more urgent needs, our situation is not as bad as some other folks, who need help more than us.

Thanks for all the advices but I'm still hoping someone could jump in and explain what will happen now regarding the Rent Allowance after the review, I am not going to lie that our rent is lower that it really is, and from what I've heard there will be no leniency when it comes to that. I don't want to wake up one day and be told the RA has been cancelled as we won't have the means to survive another month. And before someone asks - we don't have any living family in Ireland so we cannot move to live with them.

What do you mean when you say your rent is lower than it really is? Also how long have you been in receipt of Rent Allowance?

MariMel

donalg1 wrote: »

What do you mean when you say your rent is lower than it really is? Also how long have you been in receipt of Rent Allowance?

I would say that it a little talked about matter......people receiving rent supplement up to a certain rental limit....but paying more.
example: person find accommodation and rent is €550 a month
Rent supplement limit is that your rent is no more than €460
Tenant & landlord sign form to say tenant is paying €460 so that the tenant will get rent supplement. Tenant agrees with landlord to make up the balance unbeknown to the CWO.

This is IMHO a more common thing than people will admit to.

You may say that this is wrong and people should find properties within their rental limit. However, as I have stated before there is not one property in the entire county that falls under my rental limit that I would actually be remotely at a push able to live in. So the above example is what happens for many rural people.

gizmorox

MariMel wrote: »

I would say that it a little talked about matter......people receiving rent supplement up to a certain rental limit....but paying more.
example: person find accommodation and rent is €550 a month
Rent supplement limit is that your rent is no more than €460
Tenant & landlord sign form to say tenant is paying €460 so that the tenant will get rent supplement. Tenant agrees with landlord to make up the balance unbeknown to the CWO.

This is IMHO a more common thing than people will admit to.

You may say that this is wrong and people should find properties within their rental limit. However, as I have stated before there is not one property in the entire county that falls under my rental limit that I would actually be remotely at a push able to live in. So the above example is what happens for many rural people.

Rang the Dept Of Social Protection earlier,they now require evidence of payment to landlord and to counteract what you're suggesting they're checking via landlord's tax number,my landlord doesn't even live in Dublin so can't pay any extra in cash,thereby creating a paper trail that would have both him and myself up on fraud charges