Almost impossible to get rent allowance in Tipp South

hamco

We have just found ourselves in a position where we need to find a landlord who will take rent allowance. It will be our first time ever looking for help with our rent.
We have to move from our house to rental accomodation in the next 6 to 8 weeks, so my partner went to rent allowance officer to see if we are allowed claim r/a.
She was told we would need to apply to the council for housing first and once we are accepted for that and our names are on the councils housing list, we could appy for rent allowance.
The most confusing thing she was told is that a couple with two children need to find a property that is no more than 540e per month, it can be less but not more than that.
This seems crazy to me as we need a 3 bed house and the average rent in South Tipp. is 650e to 850e per month.
Nothing decent available for 540e per month.
What do we do?

mr_cochise

Hi Hamco,

it just so happens I have a house up for rent in South Tipp for that price. What area are you searching in?

hamco

mr_cochise wrote: »

Hi Hamco,

it just so happens I have a house up for rent in South Tipp for that price. What area are you searching in?

In or near Clonmel.

mr_cochise

The house is closer to Tipp Town, so I don't think it's much help to you.

All I can say is don't be put off by the initial asking price. If a landlord can get the right tenant they can often be persuaded to come down on the rent. I know I can. Best of luck!

hamco

Tipp town would not be an option, just a bit too far out for us but thanks for the advice, I never thought of haggling the rent with a landlord.
Cheers.

kneemos

hamco wrote: »

We have just found ourselves in a position where we need to find a landlord who will take rent allowance. It will be our first time ever looking for help with our rent.
We have to move from our house to rental accomodation in the next 6 to 8 weeks, so my partner went to rent allowance officer to see if we are allowed claim r/a.
She was told we would need to apply to the council for housing first and once we are accepted for that and our names are on the councils housing list, we could appy for rent allowance.
The most confusing thing she was told is that a couple with two children need to find a property that is no more than 540e per month, it can be less but not more than that.
This seems crazy to me as we need a 3 bed house and the average rent in South Tipp. is 650e to 850e per month.
Nothing decent available for 540e per month.
What do we do?

definitly haggle the price, every bit helps

Slydice

The rate you were told is right from looking at the citizens information website:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html

There were 2 houses with 3 bed in clonmel when I searched daft that are below 540.

This one is 525 and looks awesome but... it's a good bit out in the countryside:
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1164994

This one is 500 but is closer to cahir than clonmel but again looks lovely (I don't know anything about Ardfinnan or Tipp in general though):
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1132893

kneemos

Normally how it works is you tell the council you are paying 540 Per month and pay the rest yourself.

Graces7

kneemos wrote: »

Normally how it works is you tell the council you are paying 540 Per month and pay the rest yourself.

That is illegal. Period. It means that the landord and tenant have to lie also on the forms. They check bank accounts also etc.

hamco

Slydice wrote: »

The rate you were told is right from looking at the citizens information website:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html

There were 2 houses with 3 bed in clonmel when I searched daft that are below 540.

This one is 525 and looks awesome but... it's a good bit out in the countryside:
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1164994

This one is 500 but is closer to cahir than clonmel but again looks lovely (I don't know anything about Ardfinnan or Tipp in general though):
http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?id=1132893

Thanks for that, Ardfinnan is a nice village and close enough to Clonmel for us.

hamco

kneemos wrote: »

Normally how it works is you tell the council you are paying 540 Per month and pay the rest yourself.

Thanks for your advice, but if both the landlord and tenant have to lie to council its not a situation we would be comfortable with.

Graces7 wrote: »

That is illegal. Period. It means that the landlord and tenant have to lie also on the forms. They check bank accounts also etc.

Was thinking the same as you.