Rent Allowance Tenant - Getting kicked out of current house and can't find anywhere

pinkyponk2

Hi all

My sister and her 3 kids have been renting a private house for about 5 or 6 years. In that time she has never missed a rent payment, always paid her bills, never had any complaints about her, will only contact her landlady if absolutely needs to etc .. generally an all round perfect tenant.

Her landlady is selling up so unfortunately my sister and her kids have to move out. She has given my sister a brilliant reference but as she is on rent allowance she is finding it extremely difficult to find anywhere to move to. Her current house is now "Sale Agreed" so time is running out.

Theres rarely any suitable houses put up for rent and when there is there is enough interest that the landlord wont touch a rent allowance tenant. Has anyone got any advise at all?

Thanks so much.

iwillhtfu

In what area is your sister looking to rent?

pinkyponk2

Apologies, she's currently in the Dublin 5 area but will move further out.

Gatling

pinkyponk2 wrote: »

Apologies, she's currently in the Dublin 5 area but will move further out.

Definitely look further afield a lot a dublin is out of rent supplement limits unfortunately

Stheno

pinkyponk2 wrote: »

Apologies, she's currently in the Dublin 5 area but will move further out.

Has she looked around the likes of balbriggan?

Moonbeam

Even in Balbriggan accepting rent allowance can draw 60+ enquiries and views but generally rent is inside of Fingal allowed limits.

Stheno

Moonbeam wrote: »

Even in Balbriggan accepting rent allowance can draw 60+ enquiries and views but generally rent is inside of Fingal allowed limits.

Yeah that's why I suggested it as the rent is within the limits. Demand is very high though, but she might find somewhere

Gumbo

Your sister needs to get everything in order as if she is a private renter.
Ring the houses she likes even if they don't say they accept RA.

She needs to talk to the landlord in person to get across how she is, how she will respect the property and the only reason she is looking for another house now is because her current house has sale agreed. Make sure to point out that she was there for 6 years as this means a lot in my opinion.

Have a months security deposit ready to go, if she can have the first months rent ready too.

I took in an RA tenant in D11 as she came across in the exact same situation as yourself even out of the private renters that had viewed it I was happy with her and it's been plain sailing ever since. Fingers crossed

ComfortKid

You'd think landlords would prefer a rent allowance tennent as it guarantees that the rent will be paid on time every month no?

Stheno

ComfortKid wrote: »

You'd think landlords would prefer a rent allowance tennent as it guarantees that the rent will be paid on time every month no?

Not when it is paid directly to the tenant

Eric Cartman

ComfortKid wrote: »

You'd think landlords would prefer a rent allowance tennent as it guarantees that the rent will be paid on time every month no?

landlords all take RA once and generally once only. Its obviously not every RA tenant but any seasoned landlord will always have an RA horror story.

ComfortKid

Stheno wrote:

Not when it is paid directly to the tenant

Eric Cartman wrote:

landlords all take RA once and generally once only. Its obviously not every RA tenant but any seasoned landlord will always have an RA horror story.

Sorry. I'm on a different scheme, I got mixed up. The Council pay my rent directly to the landlord and I pay the council. I like this because I have nothing to worry about and my landlord doesn't have to worry about me running off with the money.

Gumbo

ComfortKid wrote: »

You'd think landlords would prefer a rent allowance tennent as it guarantees that the rent will be paid on time every month no?

Not really. It goes to the tenant. It comes about 8 weeks after the tenant goes in. Then there can be trouble with the tenant holding back especially towards the end etc

It's risky!

ComfortKid

kceire wrote:

Not really. It goes to the tenant. It comes about 8 weeks after the tenant goes in. Then there can be trouble with the tenant holding back especially towards the end etc

As I said previously, I am on a different RA scheme, it goes straight to landlord from the day I moved.

I thought the whole country was switched to HAP now

Gatling

ComfortKid wrote: »

As I said previously, I am on a different RA scheme, it goes straight to landlord from the day I moved.

I thought the whole country was switched to HAP now

It's been brought in slowly ,there trying to avoid the issue of it been a short term payment I believe

ComfortKid

Gatling wrote:

It's been brought in slowly ,there trying to avoid the issue of it been a short term payment I believe

It is a good thing though, yeah?

Will this make it easier for landlords to rent to unemployed?

Gatling

ComfortKid wrote: »

It is a good thing though, yeah?

Will this make it easier for landlords to rent to unemployed?

Yeah definitely especially if makes getting people back to the work force easier too .

ComfortKid

Gatling wrote:

Yeah definitely especially if makes getting people back to the work force easier too .

Yeah I'm allowed earn up to 30k and keep it which should be an incentive for the people who are "better off on the dole"

Wabbit Ears

My sister was in the exact same situation and ended moving into our mothers as she would otherwise have been homeless. Took another 8 months to find a place.

She swears that being a single mother was what got her turned away the most as, more often than not, RA hadn't even been discussed yet!!

Basically in those 8 months she got employed and saved for a deposit and first months rent and went looking as a renter, not as a RA. Still had to move miles outside of Dublin !!!

Moonbeam

ComfortKid wrote: »

You'd think landlords would prefer a rent allowance tennent as it guarantees that the rent will be paid on time every month no?

no,unfortunately not.
The tenant pays a share too.

pinkyponk2

Stheno wrote: »

Has she looked around the likes of balbriggan?

Her kids are in school in D5 and she doesn't want to have to move them so hoping not to go too far out.

pinkyponk2

kceire wrote: »

Your sister needs to get everything in order as if she is a private renter.
Ring the houses she likes even if they don't say they accept RA.

She needs to talk to the landlord in person to get across how she is, how she will respect the property and the only reason she is looking for another house now is because her current house has sale agreed. Make sure to point out that she was there for 6 years as this means a lot in my opinion.

Have a months security deposit ready to go, if she can have the first months rent ready too.

I took in an RA tenant in D11 as she came across in the exact same situation as yourself even out of the private renters that had viewed it I was happy with her and it's been plain sailing ever since. Fingers crossed

Thanks kceire, I did say that to her but unfortunately most lettings are done via letting agents now so you don't get to speak directly to the landlord. I suggested typing up a letter with all the info, attaching a copy of her current landlady's reference and sending them to letting agents. Do you think that would help?

athtrasna

pinkyponk2 wrote: »

Her kids are in school in D5 and she doesn't want to have to move them so hoping not to go too far out.

She should probably prepare for having to give up on that wish, she isn't in a strong position. There are next to no decent options accepting RA in the city council area

pinkyponk2

ComfortKid wrote: »

Sorry. I'm on a different scheme, I got mixed up. The Council pay my rent directly to the landlord and I pay the council. I like this because I have nothing to worry about and my landlord doesn't have to worry about me running off with the money.

Hi ComfortKid. what scheme is that if you don't mind me asking?

Edit: Sorry just saw you said it was HAP. That's not yet available in our area.

charlietheminxx

Being honest, staying in Dublin 5 is really unrealistic. Even as private tenants, it's challenging to find somewhere decent that close to town. She needs to be looking at North Co. Dublin and West Dublin.

ted1

ComfortKid wrote: »

You'd think landlords would prefer a rent allowance tennent as it guarantees that the rent will be paid on time every month no?

From experience they tend to be more hassle than tenants paying their own rent.

handlemaster

Has she looked at west finglas id imagine she would get a rental there. I dont have much knowledge of the area. Dublin 15 is a great area but is much in demand. RA tenants are up against it

John Mason

handlemaster wrote: »

Has she looked at west finglas id imagine she would get a rental there. I dont have much knowledge of the area. Dublin 15 is a great area but is much in demand. RA tenants are up against it

Not a hope of getting a house within the price in Finglas. The rents are ridiculous and there are only 8 houses to rent

handlemaster

Gatling wrote: »

It's been brought in slowly ,there trying to avoid the issue of it been a short term payment I believe

what about west finglas surely there must be three bed houses to rent there at a reasonable price ?

massy086

handlemaster wrote: »

what about west finglas surely there must be three bed houses to rent there at a reasonable price ?

No finglas rents are very high and very few will take ra

John Mason

handlemaster wrote: »

what about west finglas surely there must be three bed houses to rent there at a reasonable price ?

Not a hope of getting a house within the price in Finglas. The rents are ridiculous and there are only 8 houses to rent

steddyeddy

OP slightly different situation but I dealt with a lot of students who became homeless and struggled to find anywhere accepting similar students. Demand and all that goes with it are all fair enough but the major priority here is housing those children. Ireland has a bad enough reputation regarding child welfare and children becoming homeless.

Landlords don't have a responsibility towards your sister but the children come first. If all else fails then lie. Sya you have a job, whoops I lost it now I'll need rent allowance. If anything that will give you temp security.

Another option is to check out the local housing division like to one on Parnell street. Sometimes they have a list of rent allowance accepting accommodation available.

Third and final point is that a lot of places say no rent allowance but sometimes you can make an impression on the landlord and they can make an exception.

Here's hoping things sort themselves out and good luck.

steddyeddy

athtrasna wrote: »

She should probably prepare for having to give up on that wish, she isn't in a strong position. There are next to no decent options accepting RA in the city council area

Well it's not her that's suffering most. It's the kids. This housing shortage crap has to end soon.

vagazzled

I read this week (in the Journal) of the HSE's credit card limit being reached and as a result a family had to sleep in a car in an Industrial estate overnight. Fr Peter McVerry says there are 12 families sleeping in cars.
Kids in cars? Thats pretty dangerous for the kids. Losing their bedrooms, friends, pets, etc must be incredibly distressing, plus they can't help but pickup on the situation. I hope that kids in cars overnight with their parents does not become an acceptable standard. Can you imagine sleeping with your partner & 3 young kids in a car?
According to todays indo, 6 pregnant women slept rough during the week. It's like Dublin is slowly becoming 'ethnically cleansed' of the less well off, it's just too expensive to rent here as a low paid worker or RA unless you are prepared to live in a hovel, if you're lucky enough to find somewhere within the limits - I've seen sheds for rent on daft that say no RA.

athtrasna

steddyeddy wrote: »

Well it's not her that's suffering most. It's the kids. This housing shortage crap has to end soon.

There are houses, just not everywhere. Rent allowance tenants have to accept they can't pick and choose areas they want to live in to a point when there's a housing shortage in central Dublin.

handlemaster

John Mason wrote: »

Not a hope of getting a house within the price in Finglas. The rents are ridiculous and there are only 8 houses to rent

Not even in Dunsink !!! Or similar

slowjoe17

steddyeddy wrote: »

Well it's not her that's suffering most. It's the kids. This housing shortage crap has to end soon.

The "housing problem" isn't going to end any time soon, unfortunately.

We'll be talking about it for the next 5 years at least.

Fundamentally, the population of Dublin has grown faster than we've built new homes.

Essentially, we're trying to fit a litre into a pint glass now, and we'll be trying to fit slightly more next year, and the year after and the...

steddyeddy

slowjoe17 wrote: »

The "housing problem" isn't going to end any time soon, unfortunately.

We'll be talking about it for the next 5 years at least.

Fundamentally, the population of Dublin has grown faster than we've built new homes.

Essentially, we're trying to fit a litre into a pint glass now, and we'll be trying to fit slightly more next year, and the year after and the...

Oh I agree but on topic relating to this case I don't think that it's unfair to say the needs of the children in this case supercede any debate about entitlement around rent allowance.

Pawwed Rig

Taking the needs of the children into account then I think the OP's sister needs to plan long term. Unfortunately I do not think this includes remaining in Dublin 5 where according to Daft a realistic rent for even a 2 bed property will start at €1,300 (3 bed could be €1,700+) whereas the rent allowance rates for a family with three kids is €1,000. The low price coupled with the low level of attractiveness a LL has in taking in an RA tenant means that it will be extremely difficult to find a property. Thinking longterm the OP's sister should identify a place in Ireland where they can have some certainty of long term accomodation. I am thinking of places such as the midlands where the rental market is still chugging along the bottom and there is availability for RA tenants like your sister but still has decent enough schools and services.
Best of luck to her as it is a crap situation to be in.

bigpink

Is she working college single etc?

The_Conductor

Moderator note:

Guys- keep with the information the OP has supplied-and any subsequent answers. I will not tolerate anyone who tries to turn this into a social welfare bashing thread. If you want to debate the relative merits of our social welfare system etc- take it elsewhere, this is not an appropriate venue.

Roger McAllen

It's looking like moving outside Dublin is the only option left for rent allowance tenants. There are beautiful properties on daft in nice communities of Westmeath/Cavan/Longford/etc who accept rent allowance. Faced with the choice of sleeping in a car with my children, or living out of hotel rooms, or moving down the country - I know which I would choose.

TheDoc

To be honest if I had to leave my rented house tomorrow, I'd immediately look into places outside of Dublin.

There are some smashing places available for much cheaper, on commuter belts that are actually the same time travelled as what I'm doing down that ****ebag M50.

steddyeddy

Roger McAllen wrote: »

It's looking like moving outside Dublin is the only option left for rent allowance tenants. There are beautiful properties on daft in nice communities of Westmeath/Cavan/Longford/etc who accept rent allowance. Faced with the choice of sleeping in a car with my children, or living out of hotel rooms, or moving down the country - I know which I would choose.

I know but the children have no choice. It would involve a move from school for them and leaving behind any friends they have. It's not as easy as being made out.

Wabbit Ears

I know several people who have recently moved and have had to move their kids because if an inability to find accommodation, both RA and fully employed. It sucks and is inconvenient but it's not a blocker by any means. Kids sometimes have to move school but they bounce back pretty quick.

Also, this decision should have been made sooner, mid august is not the time to be planning school moves, the person here needs to get their act together and start thinking of the realities if the situation which is they are realistically going to have to move to an affordable location.

steddyeddy

OP I still have access to UCD's list of accommodation. We'll send out a few emails for you to inquire regarding rent allowance in Dublin.

Thargor

Just curious, whats the difference between all these people being shoved into cars and B&Bs etc and the people who refuse to leave places until they have another accommodation lined up? Its not like a sheriff dragged them out. Remember that Primetime a while ago where someone from Threshold or the PTRB or somewhere told that single mother to just stay where she was and not move, even though she had all her stuff packed and was ready to go...

TheDoc

Thargor wrote: »

Just curious, whats the difference between all these people being shoved into cars and B&Bs etc and the people who refuse to leave places until they have another accommodation lined up? Its not like a sheriff dragged them out. Remember that Primetime a while ago where someone from Threshold or the PTRB or somewhere told that single mother to just stay where she was and not move, even though she had all her stuff packed and was ready to go...

Who knows?

Sometimes I ask myself why do I bother playing by the rules, when this country clearly rewards those who take the piss, get an inch and take a mile, and just basically give two fingers to authority.

Bit of an exaggeration, but I'd imagine those in emergency accommodation probably followed proper process, and when it came to eviction, left like mature adults. Probably naively thinking that the state would be equipped to deal with what was going to happen(and writing on the wall for 18 months) to only get thrown into emergency accommodation.

It's a massive failure on the governments part. As with many things, put on the long finger while they dealt with nonsense. Maybe instead of people out protesting €30 water bills, if they protested about the housing crisis, we'd have some tangible action. As with most of the "crisis" with this government, they only pull the finger out when the pressure mounts. While its obvious and abundant there is a genuine problem here, other things are taking precident.

The asylum seeker stuff, provision living or whatever, has more lobbying and airtime then our own families being put up in hotels for months on end. Unless your shouting bloody murder, with a TD by your side shouting louder, this government arnt in any rush to deal with you.

And in regards to another bunch of people who are in emergency accommodation, they are people who just lost their home ownership. Again got all the letters, went through all the process, probably were mature and accepted they held a large part of the blame here. Didn't play hardball, banks rolled them over, and they accepted what was happening and handed back the keys without getting some whack job parked outside their house quoting cannon law.

to be honest I'd like to think I have a bit of pride about myself, and if something happened tomorrow where my financial situation changed and I couldn't afford my house, I'd move out promptly if requested by my landlord. That I'd be man enough to accept failings on my part, and not cause hassle for my landlord, and not have some outrageous entitlement for him to house me at a loss to him.

But then maybe I'm an outdated way of thinking. I felt embarrassed and ashamed to be on social welfare for six months, where as now you are nearly a plank if you havn't got some little swindle on the go getting an extra few bob on the sly from the social.

Paulownia

I had a tenant who was on rent allowance and stopped paying rent and it took nearly a year to get him out and the day after he moved his rent allowance cheque arrived as usual and I opened it and returned it to sender with a note saying he owed me ten months rent even though he had been collecting his allowance every month. He moved into another house on the estate and is still there a year later, I have seen him there.

slowjoe17

steddyeddy wrote: »

I know but the children have no choice. It would involve a move from school for them and leaving behind any friends they have. It's not as easy as being made out.

Kids of working people also have to change schools because of housing changes. I had to change 2 times aside from the primary -> secondary change, and grew up in three different town. Just one of those things.

There no reason why the kids of RAS tenants should be protected from this fact of life. If anything, it's a plus - their horizons are expanded, and their network of friends increased.

pinkyponk2

steddyeddy wrote: »

OP I still have access to UCD's list of accommodation. We'll send out a few emails for you to inquire regarding rent allowance in Dublin.

Thank you so much steddyeddy that would be very much appreciated!