DCC Social Housing

LegacyUser

First off it seems to be impossible to sign up as a member to this site, I've tried the sign up process on Chrome, IE and my phone, none of them let you progress past entering a user name on the first page, everything else remains grey.

I was inquiring about joining the housing list (Dublin City). I'm single (and under no illusions as to how low priority my case would be, however I'd be hoping to get granted assistance via the HAP or whathaveyou) and just arrived home after a few years abroad. Stayed with the parents for a few weeks, signed on very briefly before securing myself some woefully paid work (23K a year, but its a start), and am out living in a house share now. I was under the impression that anyone earning below the threshold was entitled to apply, until I came across this:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/local_authority_and_social_housing/applying_for_local_authority_housing.html

Eligibility
To be regarded as eligible for social housing you must satisfy the income criteria.

You must also show that you do not have suitable alternative accommodation.

Alternative accommodation:

You will be regarded as having alternative accommodation if a member of the household has property that the household could reasonably be expected to live in.


Now, I'm not entirely sure of how this caveat works. Like pretty much anyone who isn't either living on the streets or in a squat my house is livable. I live in the archetypal lads house, you wouldn't live here with your missus but it's not a crack den either. The place could do with a renovation, the carpet is ancient, it hasn't been painted since it was built and the doors/ appliances are in a dodgy state, but it has heat, electric and hot water so it hardly falls under the above, or does it?

A second query regards what I mark on the form. Among multiple options there are two that I feel apply to me:

Rented Local Authority Accomadation
Rental Accomadation Scheme

Can I mark both? I am under no illusion that I am going to get a placement in my current situation, what I am really looking for is the right to receive assistance paying my private rent.

Third:

I am applying to DCC. On the form it says "a maximum of three areas of choice may be ticked from the following list of areas of choice". Does this mean three areas throughout the whole of Dublin or three per council area (e.g. three in DCC, three in Fingal etc). Am I better off ticking a lower demand council area?

Finally, the landlord of the property I am in is an all cash no taxman no contracts set up. My name is on the utility bills and I sublet to the other lads, which I'm assuming makes me ineligible to have any type of rent assistance paid to this particular landlord. For the minute I'm just concerned with getting my name on the list before it gets any longer so that I may find someone in the future who accepts HAP, how would I go about proceeding from here? The form wants the name of my present landlord, I might find myself out on my arse if I put it down and he gets calls off the revenue.

Lastly, what is the story with applying in other counties? On paper it doesn't seem to be an option but I anecdotal know of a few problem people who have been shifted out to the likes of Kildare, Meath and Cavan at least temporarily by Dublin local authorities glad to get rid of them. If the offers were there I'd have no objection to getting sorted anywhere around the likes of Maynooth etc.

Thanks lads, sorry I'd normally go to the citizens advice but I just can't afford the time out of work.

snubbleste

Yes, you can apply for social housing - you don't own property & you qualify on income grounds.
You can pick three areas from the list that you desire. Lower areas of demand have in theory shorter wait times.
You can only be on one local authority list at a time.

You will not get assistance with rent as you are earning too much.

Immaculata

Attempted Member wrote: »

I was inquiring about joining the housing list (Dublin City). I'm single (and under no illusions as to how low priority my case would be

You're right; your case wouldn't be a priority. Priority cases though are few and far between and essentially the overwhelming majority of social housing applicants applications are fulfilled in order of the date they applied. The time you're waiting on the list is the only factor that matters.

Attempted Member wrote: »

living in a house share now. I was under the impression that anyone earning below the threshold was entitled to apply, until I came across this: (snip) You will be regarded as having alternative accommodation if a member of the household has property that the household could reasonably be expected to live in.

All that means is if you (or a member of your household) owns a house that you could live in, you should go live in it. You don't have a housing need in those circumstances so you aren't allowed be on the housing list. So that criterion doesn't affect you.

Attempted Member wrote: »

Rented Local Authority Accommodation
Rental Accommodation Scheme

Can I mark both?

Yes.

Attempted Member wrote: »

I am under no illusion that I am going to get a placement in my current situation, what I am really looking for is the right to receive assistance paying my private rent.

You will eventually get a placement but it will take years. You are probably earning too much already to get rent allowance. But you should still send in a social housing application anyway as you might lose your job and then be eligible for rent allowance - but you'd need to have had your housing need assessed to apply. Getting your name on the social housing waiting list is how you get your housing need assessed. So it's worth your while applying.

Attempted Member wrote: »

I am applying to DCC. On the form it says "a maximum of three areas of choice may be ticked from the following list of areas of choice". Does this mean three areas throughout the whole of Dublin or three per council area (e.g. three in DCC, three in Fingal etc).

Three per council area. You can only apply to one council area.

Attempted Member wrote: »

Am I better off ticking a lower demand council area?

In theory, yes. In practice, no. By the time you get placed, your whole life situation could have changed. Personally, I ticked the council area I wanted to live in most.

Attempted Member wrote: »

Lastly, what is the story with applying in other counties? On paper it doesn't seem to be an option but I anecdotal know of a few problem people who have been shifted out to the likes of Kildare, Meath and Cavan at least temporarily by Dublin local authorities glad to get rid of them. If the offers were there I'd have no objection to getting sorted anywhere around the likes of Maynooth etc.

The waiting lists in other counties are much, much shorter. In some cases, the waiting lists are months rather than years long. Ring the council housing departments in the areas you're interested in and have an off the record chat to see what the situation is. As far as I remember, councils in counties that are far outside the commuter belt are the quickest to be housed in, which is not surprisingly. But check what your commuting times would be before you make any decisions on that score.