rental accommodation scheme RAS

donegalgal1

Hi, I'm living in letterkenny, with my boyfriend just the of us, currently on rent allowance. We are interested in doing the ras scheme and have found a house in the country 6 miles from letterkenny. Which we just love. The landlord is agreeable to do the ras the rent is 650 per month and he won't budge from this. Will the council pay this much or is there a certain limit ? The person in the council is off Al week that deale with ras to answer my query.. any feed back appreciated Thanks

fussyonion

The council will pay below the market rate and will negotiate the rent with the Landlord.
They will also have to inspect the house, make sure it's up to their standards and that inspection takes up to 8 weeks.
That'll be 8 weeks of no rent for your LL...think he'll be alright with that?

Kelly06

Are RAS Leases not going to be phased out with the new HAP? The advantage of RAS over rent allowance is that the tenant can work and pay a percentage of their wage towards rent just like a council tenant can. A person on rent allowance usually looses most of their payment if they work even for a low wage. The HAP is going to be rolled out soon enough the Councils who are going to be running the trial for this payment have already been picked and it will be starting soon.

Could you move to the house with rent allowance and then try to see if you can move to HAP / RAS then after? This would probably your best bet. The Council wont pay the market rent though as they expect a reduction in the price as its a guaranteed rent regardless if the property is occupied.

donegalgal1

fussyonion wrote: »

The council will pay below the market rate and will negotiate the rent with the Landlord.
They will also have to inspect the house, make sure it's up to their standards and that inspection takes up to 8 weeks.
That'll be 8 weeks of no rent for your LL...think he'll be alright with that?

I know so if the market rate is 650.. how much do you think they will pay. . And because it is a 3 and we are a couple with no kids will it be okay . Yes well the landlord says he has few things still to do to house so would be 4-8 before its ready

donegalgal1

Kelly06 wrote: »

Are RAS Leases not going to be phased out with the new HAP? The advantage of RAS over rent allowance is that the tenant can work and pay a percentage of their wage towards rent just like a council tenant can. A person on rent allowance usually looses most of their payment if they work even for a low wage. The HAP is going to be rolled out soon enough the Councils who are going to be running the trial for this payment have already been picked and it will be starting soon.

Could you move to the house with rent allowance and then try to see if you can move to HAP / RAS then after? This would probably your best bet. The Council wont pay the market rent though as they expect a reduction in the price as its a guaranteed rent regardless if the property is occupied.

I'm not to sure we had an interview few weeks ago and was told we could also do the ras if we wanted but at the time wasn't interested then thought more about it. Well the house we are in at the minute is quite cheaper and I hate the area. So would like to move and get ras on the other. But of landlord won't drop rent and council won't pay that rate looks like it is a no go

Kelly06

donegalgal1 wrote: »

I know so if the market rate is 650.. how much do you think they will pay. . And because it is a 3 and we are a couple with no kids will it be okay . Yes well the landlord says he has few things still to do to house so would be 4-8 before its ready

This booklet from Donegal County Council tells you it all:

http://www.donegalcoco.ie/media/donegalcountyc/housing/pdfs/InformationBookletonSocialLeasing.pdf

It says they pay 92% page 6!

Kelly06

donegalgal1 wrote: »

I'm not to sure we had an interview few weeks ago and was told we could also do the ras if we wanted but at the time wasn't interested then thought more about it. Well the house we are in at the minute is quite cheaper and I hate the area. So would like to move and get ras on the other. But of landlord won't drop rent and council won't pay that rate looks like it is a no go

If ive done my maths right that means they will pay 598. Always better to be on a ras payment as you can work and pay a % of your income to the Council.

quadrifoglio verde

I doubt they'll pay for a 3bed for you as your housing needs is a 1bed.

Kelly06

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

I doubt they'll pay for a 3bed for you as your housing needs is a 1bed.

This is true what size is your current house you got rent allowance for.

quadrifoglio verde

Kelly06 wrote: »

This is true what size is your current house you got rent allowance for.

I don't have rent allowance. But as far as I know that's the councils policy. They house you based on your needs and not on your wants

Kelly06

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

I don't have rent allowance. But as far as I know that's the councils policy. They house you based on your needs and not on your wants

Sorry, my bad! I was talking to the op! Just trying to see what sized property they are receiving a payment for already.

fussyonion

You won't be allowed rent a three-bed house on Ras/Rent Allowance.
You'll only be entitled to rent a one-bed.

donegalgal1

Kelly06 wrote: »

If ive done my maths right that means they will pay 598. Always better to be on a ras payment as you can work and pay a % of your income to the Council.

I'd be happy if they payed 598 and I am sure landlord would drop to that. If not we could pay the odds, very confusing and not much on the Internet about it

donegalgal1

Kelly06 wrote: »

This is true what size is your current house you got rent allowance for.

My current house is a 3 bedroom but rent is quite a bit cheaper, when I had the interview he said I would be entitled to a bed as long as I don't want ras for a 5 bed wit a swimming pool lol

Pawwed Rig

€650 seems like alot. According to this link http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html the max you can pay is €325. This is rent allowance though. Not sure if RAS would be too different.

fussyonion

You can't pay the difference. It's not allowed.

donegalgal1

fussyonion wrote: »

You can't pay the difference. It's not allowed.

Yes but they wouldn't have to know lol

fussyonion

donegalgal1 wrote: »

Yes but they wouldn't have to know lol

And this is why Landlords hate Rent Allowance and RAS.
The tenant is willing to lie in order to get what they want.
It's not going to work.
You will be found out and you'll be in serious trouble.

Pawwed Rig

donegalgal1 wrote: »

Yes but they wouldn't have to know lol

It is also one of the reasons why the council offer really low amounts, because dishonest landlords and tenants are happy to commit fraud thereby making rents look cheaper than they actually are. As usual it is the honest people who suffer because of the actions of dishonest.

donegalgal1

fussyonion wrote: »

You won't be allowed rent a three-bed house on Ras/Rent Allowance.
You'll only be entitled to rent a one-bed.

That was not my question, I already am getting rent all for a 3 bed thanks anyway but please no more silly comments

donegalgal1

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

It is also one of the reasons why the council offer really low amounts, because dishonest landlords and tenants are happy to commit fraud thereby making rents look cheaper than they actually are. As usual it is the honest people who suffer because of the actions of dishonest.

Well if u can find a property to rent for rent allowance rates you would be the only person in the country my friend people are forced to lie as landlords prices are to high and social welfare don't pay enough what are we meant to do live on the streets when we can't find employment.

Pawwed Rig

donegalgal1 wrote: »

Well if u can find a property to rent for rent allowance rates you would be the only person in the country my friend people are forced to lie as landlords prices are to high and social welfare don't pay enough what are we meant to do live on the streets when we can't find employment.

And can you not see cause and effect here? Landlord prices are not too high. They fall into line with the market. Your rent allowance will not get you a property because of fraudulent illegal top up payments artificially inflate the market. It is not as widespread as you seem to think btw.