Rent Supplement nightmare

KMM

Hello All,

I have an issue/problem regarding rent supplement.

My boyfriend and I are both seeking rent supplement, however as of June this year the rental limits where reduced for rural areas. Our issue is that in discussion with our landlord, he is not willing to reduce our rent to meet this limit nor is he willing to lie about how much we pay, which of course he is well within his rights to do.

The major issue is that, the reduction of the rent allowance limits brought down the maximum rent to €400 for a childless couple in our county, however there is actually no accommodation available within the area which meets this and the average market rate in our area is €600-€700!

How are people expected to survive in such situations? It is surely unfair...if we try to seek cheaper accommodation as the CWO has suggested we will be breaking our lease and losing our deposit. Not to mention the fact that there is no cheaper accommodation within the area. It was then suggested we relocate to a cheaper town/area, which I personally thought was shocking. Especially as we are both mature students and are living where we are to attend college full time.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone out there has had a similar experience? Or has any advice.

Thanks a mill

fussyonion

I was in your situation and I know how frustrating it is.

Our Landlord was kind enough to reduce our rent twice during times when the Rent Allowance was reduced, but when the limits were lowered again, he wouldn't reduce his rent, which I understood completely.

Our only other option was to move somewhere else, but circumstances changed and we were housed.

Have you thought about entering into the RAS scheme?

It's a scheme whereby the Landlord is guaranteed his rent each and every month, even during periods of unoccupied tenancy, and the leases can range from 4 -10 years.

The council pay 90% of the rent to the Landlord and you pay 10% to the council.
You do not have to negotiate rent with the LL or discuss any lease arrangements; the council do all that.
It's a good scheme because you can carry on with whatever you're doing, i.e college or work, without it affecting your home.

Definitely consider this as an option and maybe even talk to your current Landlord and see if he is interested


Contact your local council to apply ...oh, but you must already be on the Housing List, but I'm assuming you are if you're receiving Rent Allowance.
Let us know how you get on.
You're definitely not the only one in this frustrating position.

Annasopra

Contact your local td as well and let them know you're on the verge of becoming homeless

KMM

Thanks fussyonion and mango salsa

Neither of us are on the housing list for where we are now, we have both been able to provide details of private rented accommodation for the prior 6 months which the CWO told us was all we needed. We could have applied for the housing list if I was not already on the housing list for Dublin from years back, as the conditions changed in 2011 you can no longer apply to more than one housing authority.
However I am trying to see if I can be removed from Dublin and placed on the one here but I can't get ay straight answers from anyone,

Anyway, we are going to speak to our Landlord again and just fill him in on the RAS scheme but if the housing authority here won't allow me to apply we really are screwed.

I shouldn't complain because there are so many others out there that are far worse off then we are, even though we are seriously struggling.

Thanks again guys

fussyonion

KMM wrote: »

Thanks fussyonion and mango salsa

Neither of us are on the housing list for where we are now, we have both been able to provide details of private rented accommodation for the prior 6 months which the CWO told us was all we needed. We could have applied for the housing list if I was not already on the housing list for Dublin from years back, as the conditions changed in 2011 you can no longer apply to more than one housing authority.
However I am trying to see if I can be removed from Dublin and placed on the one here but I can't get ay straight answers from anyone,

Anyway, we are going to speak to our Landlord again and just fill him in on the RAS scheme but if the housing authority here won't allow me to apply we really are screwed.

I shouldn't complain because there are so many others out there that are far worse off then we are, even though we are seriously struggling.

Thanks again guys

You can only apply for the RAS scheme if you are on the Housing List and it has to be in the same area. For example, if you were on the South Dublin housing list, you can only apply for RAS for South Dublin

KMM

Ok, thanks a mill for all the help. Going to go and speak to Council and CWO again this week and see what can be done

ShaShaBear

Just reading this on the CI webpage, which said you needed to be claiming rent supplement for 18 months before being accepted?