council housing

caitlin12

Hi.It’s the first time for me writing in here but I’m really looking for your help.
I’m in the DCC waiting list since November 2010 ,so it’s more than 6 years.I am married with a person who is injured and disabled and he is getting disability allowance. We have 3 kids,7,4 and 1 year old.the 7 years old boy is suffering from asthma attack for the last 2 years . it’s a terrible thing to see your son not breathing properly.we brought him in the hospital when he was really ill and when we where talking with the doctor he said that probably the damp and mold in the house had made him with asthma.before that time we didn’t realize that the damp and mold that we had in the house that we are renting could make our kids that much sick.
I’m trying to clean the mold but I can’t get rid of it even with the chemicals that I have to use.we can’t find another house as they don’t accept rent allowance. The baby who is 1 year old has been admitted in the hospital twice for chest infections .
We applied to DCC to move on SDCC waiting list. We applied on April and they said it will need 6 months for the transfer.so now we are in the SDCC waiting list as well.
I don’t know what to do.the house that we live now is a 2 bedroom bungalow which has a single and a double room.in the single room is sleeping my big son and my daughter.and in the double room is sleeping me my husband and the baby.the house has a lot of mold and the landlord said that is nothing he can do.
I’m being depressed. I can’t sleep at night,even if I fall asleep I’ll wake up when I hear my son coughing.I’m starting having terrible headaches and I don’t even have appetite. I’ve lost more than 17 kg because of this situation.I am scared thinking that I might go into depression like I was 4 years ago and trying to suicide myself .I don’t want to go to doctor because I’m afraid that he is going to say that I’m suffering from depression again. When I see my son sick I feel that I can’t handle all this anymore. We don’t have no one who can help us and I feel so down because of what all of us are going through.I want a better life for my kids. I don’t mind for my self.its just for my kids I want them to live in a proper place,with no mold and damp.I want them to grow up healthy and I was wandering if anyone can help me to find a
Solution on how to get a proper house from DCC or SDCC?
I would really appreciated your help and I hope that any of you is going to give me a hope.thank you

neonsofa

Have you tried a dehumidifier?
Did the landlord check for the source of damp?
Do you use a drier or hang clothes on a horse/the radiator?
Is there condensation on the windows?

caitlin12

Yes we have tried the dehumidifier and it doesn't work.
The landlord didn't checked anything.he just said " Is nothing I can do" .
No we don't dry the clothes inside and yes the windows are condensating.

neonsofa

caitlin12 wrote: »

Yes we have tried the dehumidifier and it doesn't work.
The landlord didn't checked anything.he just said " Is nothing I can do" .
No we don't dry the clothes inside and yes the windows are condensating.

What kind are you using? Some are better than others.
Could you ask him to get someone in to take a look? It could be structural or could be to do with ventilation etc. Could be something very simple.
How often would you open your windows? And do you have the heating on all the time?

Samuel T. Cogley

Can you look at widening the net in terms of social housing? Does it not work that way?

Mrs OBumble

Libertarian Kant wrote: »

Can you look at widening the net in terms of social housing? Does it not work that way?

Not really. Prospective tenants have to be accepted onto a council's housing list. That won't usually happen unless they can prove a connection to the area.


OP - are you in council housing now? You've mentioned a transfer list, which implies you are, but the way you talk about the landlord, he sounds like a private sector LL. And having opposite gender children usually means that a 2brm would be unsuitable for you.

Get a letter from your doctor outlining our family's special health needs, and make sure that the council have a copy of this. Because your partner is disabled, there are some extra houses that you may be eligible, which non-disabled people cannot have.

caitlin12

We are privately renting and we have applied for council housing as well.Its been more than 6 years since when we applied in DCC.
Usually you have to choose 3 areas in the form.It could be areas from Dublin city council or county council.In the beginning we choose just the areas from DCC and last April we decided to change it and choose 2 DCC area and 1 SDCC area.
we have been in the DCC office and we have send them the medical reports from our GP and they said "you have to wait"
6 long years with the same answer :-(
iIn the beginning ,before we changed the areas they said to us that we want loose any year from the waiting list and now the SDCC is saying that we count just the time from April 2016.
I don't know what to do.I'm getting depressed and I feel that all this situation is destroying me.

Gatling

Op you do realise the current average waiting time is 10-12 years there's people waiting longer than 6 years ,im 9 years + on the sdcc list

myshirt

If the situation is that bad, you need to get out of Dublin unfortunately. That is the practical reality.

No person should be uprooted from their community and your children from their school, they are as entitled as anyone else to participate in active community, but the practical reality is there are deep problems in the housing supply in Dublin that are not going to be solved in the near term. And in fact won't be resolved to the extent of giving people a council house for life and a rent calculated under a differential rent scheme. That's gone. It is piss poor social housing policy. Not a realistic and sensible practice any more.

Look to London as an example and how once working class communities have been replaced by communities of yuppies. Dublin is increasingly no place for those that cannot paddle their own canoe. Op, don't give up, make every effort to chart your own way for your family, but if you need state help in putting a roof over your head and food on your table it's out of Dublin you need to be. It is a more of a material challenge to help you in Dublin than it is outside it, and with limited resources it is less and less they are going to pump those into providing housing for you in an area of the country that has top quality infrastructure and services in the midst (lots of schools, shops, etc) and is thus quite expensive.

For your children's sake, I would get out of the situation you are in as soon as possible. You don't have time for DCC to get their asses in gear or to wait around for a social policy practice to be revived from the dead. You will be helped given the health situation, but the format of that help cannot be to subsidise you into the most dominant part of this economy.

Have you considered Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, or places like that?

SEPT 23 1989

Get out of the city and into the fresh air

myshirt

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Get out of the city and into the fresh air

The air in Dublin is amongst the freshest available... bit confused... are you living in China by any chance?

riclad

Go to crosscare get advice, if you have medical issues get a letter from your doctor .bring it to the housing dept in the council.You can get extra points on the housing list for medical issues you have .
We are in a housing crisis ,the no of landlords who take rent allowance is small ,the no of council houses being built is small .
or look for advice here ,www.threshold.ie
Landlords get tax credits for any repairs carried out,
the mold in any house can be removed ,maybe the house needs extra ventilation .maybe the landlord has a large mortgage and is making only a small profit.
Some old house the main ventilation method is to open a window .
Its not legal to rent out a house which has serious mold issues .
Theres rules re housing standards and safety in rental propertys.
it,s much easier to get ra property outside dublin, but you not wish to start again in another area outside dublin.

goz83

OP my brother was on the housing list since around 2011. He was living with his wife and 2 kids on rent allowance locally when his marriage fell apart and his wife moved into an apartment with the kids and left him couch surfing for years. He was on the housing with nothing happening. The only time anything happened, was when he made alot of noise about it and went to Doctors and TDs and kept annoying the people who were claiming they could do nothing....that he would be at least 10 years on the list. As a man, he was not a priority.

A big step was when he was given full custody of his son, who was developing behavioural issues (he was 9) and was missing lots of school. The argument being made was that couch surfing was causing huge stress and mental health issues for both my Brother and his son.

You need to become very active and be heard. If the council can't hear you, you're not there. They only deal with people on their radar. It's a messed up system and is totally unfair, but you have genuine reasons to make a big fuss. Consider the health of your family and keep calling and dropping into the council and get onto your TDs. Otherwise, you will be waiting at least another 6 years. I have a 6 year old with Asthma. No way would I sit around waiting and let him sleep in a damp, mouldy house.

In my experience, the Sinn Fein TDs seem to be the most proactive at dealing with this stuff. A certain female TD based in DCC was quite helpful to my Brother.

littleredspot

I think your best bet is to try sort out the mould where you are. What age is the house? What's the BER? What type of heating? Are the windows double glazed? Are there people at home all day? You say you can't remove the mould. That is unusual, bleach normally does the job. Are the walls damp? Is the mould on the ceilings only? Lots of questions but hopefully we can ease your worries and health issues.

the_syco

caitlin12 wrote: »

We applied to DCC to move on SDCC waiting list. We applied on April and they said it will need 6 months for the transfer.so now we are in the SDCC waiting list as well.

New list, probably new wait time.

caitlin12 wrote: »

I’m trying to clean the mold but I can’t get rid of it even with the chemicals that I have to use.

The chemicals will get rid of the mold, but not the source of the mold. The source is the reason it keeps coming back.

You can keep trying to move house, but in the meantime, lets concentrate on the present. Where is the mold mostly at, in what rooms, and where in relation to external walls and internal walls?

dar100

If your renting you can just move house!!! Very unlikely you'll be getting anything in the near future off the council

JustAThought

dar100 wrote: »

If your renting you can just move house!!! Very unlikely you'll be getting anything in the near future off the council

You seem immobilised by all of this - your house sounds really unsuitable for your needs at present & when your baby has to leave your bedroom will be even more unsuitable.
No doubt there are other bungalows to rent that have a suitable number of rooms & are not infested with black mould to destroy your sons respiratory system. Just bite the bullet & get googling on daft.ie it may seem a huge task but the Sooner you start sooner your childs health will have a chance to start to improve. This is your responsibility - your child cannot do this for himself. And ultimately you coukd be another 5 or 8 years waiting - far too long for a sick child when you are only renting.

Graces7

JustAThought wrote: »

You seem immobilised by all of this - your house sounds really unsuitable for your needs at present & when your baby has to leave your bedroom will be even more unsuitable.
No doubt there are other bungalows to rent that have a suitable number of rooms & are not infested with black mould to destroy your sons respiratory system. Just bite the bullet & get googling on daft.ie it may seem a huge task but the Sooner you start sooner your childs health will have a chance to start to improve. This is your responsibility - your child cannot do this for himself. And ultimately you coukd be another 5 or 8 years waiting - far too long for a sick child when you are only renting.

WIth all respect, it is getting harder and harder to find rentals that accept Rent Allowance. I was over 4 years between moves and the whole scene has changed for the harder. I had to move 200 miles which is fine with me .... Yesterday I trawled through daft ie out of interest and it gets harder. In my old county there is literally nothing I could have afforded.

OP try to find somewhere outside Dublin? It is marginally easier.

handlemaster

i get the feeling once people start to think about a free house they cant get it out if their minds. It would be better to yes look for a council housing if you are in need but not change your situation so you become more needy and try to get up the list that way. Better to look for work do courses better yourself also.

goz83

handlemaster wrote: »

i get the feeling once people start to think about a free house they cant get it out if their minds. It would be better to yes look for a council housing if you are in need but not change your situation so you become more needy and try to get up the list that way. Better to look for work do courses better yourself also.

The free house thing is certainly alluring. I generally dislike the idea of people being given a house fir life with rent being an absolute pittance...usually around €30 per week with the council in DCC. In my Brothers case, it was about stability and for the sake of his health and that of his kids. I wont get into that here, but my point is that some people need that stability and the OP seems to be someone who does.

My general belief is that the council house system is abused and the number on the list is almost meaningless. My brother was number 7 for a year. He was actually number 1 on the list for over a month and knew there were people getting housed ahead of him. There is no fairness....just loudness. Make enough noise and they put you into a council house/apartment.

The OP has children who are suffering. The LL won't do anything to address the health hazard and it's exceedingly difficult to find accommodation, especially on rent allowance. I will take my stupid high mortgage payments any day of the week if it means my kids are in a clean and safe home.

riclad

Its hard to get a house on the rent allowance scheme inside dublin,
rents have gone up alot,landlords can easily find private tenants.
See joe duffy show radio 1 this week,
theres an old couple on it finding it hard to get any flat under the rent allowance scheme.
go and get advice.To get a council house takes 5-10 years.
Rent allowance is hardly keeping up with private rental rates in dublin even if you find someone take takes on rent allowance tenants.its alot easier to get
rent allwance flats outside dublin ,but say you go to longford ,you,ll then
have to go on the local council housing list .
You wont get offered a house in coolock if you live in westmeath.
No House is free people in council houses pay rent every week.

the_syco

OP; do you have a car? I ask because if you do, you may be able to get a decent place outside of the estates.

Graces7

riclad wrote: »

Its hard to get a house on the rent allowance scheme inside dublin,
rents have gone up alot,landlords can easily find private tenants.
See joe duffy show radio 1 this week,
theres an old couple on it finding it hard to get any flat under the rent allowance scheme.
go and get advice.To get a council house takes 5-10 years.
Rent allowance is hardly keeping up with private rental rates in dublin even if you find someone take takes on rent allowance tenants.its alot easier to get
rent allwance flats outside dublin ,but say you go to longford ,you,ll then
have to go on the local council housing list .
You wont get offered a house in coolock if you live in westmeath.
No House is free people in council houses pay rent every week.

It is a nightmare. When I knew, last back end, that my landlord wanted to sell and started searching.... I was happy in the general area; had a lot of friends and the support I needed and it was heartbreaking. I was blessed to find anywhere. Miss my former town.

NB many do not know that Social Welfare can and do increase rent allowance in individual cases at need. Threshold are a great support in this; maybe the OP can talk to them?

NB also no you do not have to go on a housing list if you move.It is EITHER have been renting privately six months OR go on the housing list. They try to tell you otherwise but the rules are very clear,. So the OP can move eg to Longford and rent privately on rent allowance.

athtrasna

Mod note

Please stick to the issues raised by the OP. This is not the place for general discussion about council housing, who gets it, why and the costs involved.

caitlin12

I wrote in here because I was looking for an advice.As I said before I don't have anyone to help me and I thought that in here I would get some information on what should I do and where to look for help.
I'm not trying to get a free house.Nobody gives you something for free and if I ever get a council house I'll pay rent like I'm paying now.

myshirt

caitlin12 wrote: »

I wrote in here because I was looking for an advice.As I said before I don't have anyone to help me and I thought that in here I would get some information on what should I do and where to look for help.
I'm not trying to get a free house.Nobody gives you something for free and if I ever get a council house I'll pay rent like I'm paying now.

<mod snip>

Some good action points were made here for you to take away, and they key one is you need to move out of Dublin asap. Get back on your feet, give yourself breathing space, and work your way to putting your own roof over your head in time. It's the smart thing to do, and it is the practical thing to do given your situation.

BOHS

If you can't get alternative accommodation the first thing you need to do is contact the Council and get an Environmental Health Officer out to inspect the property. They will decide if the landlord must do work to rectify the situation with the dampness or if there is something that you as the tenant are doing to bring on the dampness.

As previously stated 6 years is not a long time to be on the housing list (when you look the amount of prople/ length of time they are on it) so you need to try and get a properity to increase your chances.

Under medical you need to show what the medical conditions are and how they will be made better by moving address (an extreme case I know but if you have cancer the majority of time it will not help medically if you move address, whereas if you have walking impairment and can't use stairs your doctor can write about your illness and the benefit of ground floor accom/ lifts) And then if there is any Welfare circumstances you should talk to a Housing Welfare Officer.

As the list in DCC now works by length of time it is not a case as some people have stated that "men are bottom of the list" or if you are not on their radar you won't be looked at", it is simply a matter of are you high enough on the list to be considered.

SDCC will be out unless you are looking for HAP as you are only on their list from last year (they won't allow you to carry your time from DCC as this would be unfair on applicants you would then skip who have spent years on SDCC's list)

Finally make sure you are noted for Voluntary Housing as this can sometimes go to people lower on the list so not everyone has marked their interest.

ballyharpat

They will not decide the landlord has to do work-they may decide the house is uninhabitable and you have to move out, the landlord can fix it-if he has the money, if he doesn't, he may just rent it out to another tenant and the new tenant may rectify the situation themselves.

BOHS wrote: »

If you can't get alternative accommodation the first thing you need to do is contact the Council and get an Environmental Health Officer out to inspect the property. They will decide if the landlord must do work to rectify the situation with the dampness or if there is something that you as the tenant are doing to bring on the dampness.

As previously stated 6 years is not a long time to be on the housing list (when you look the amount of prople/ length of time they are on it) so you need to try and get a properity to increase your chances.

Under medical you need to show what the medical conditions are and how they will be made better by moving address (an extreme case I know but if you have cancer the majority of time it will not help medically if you move address, whereas if you have walking impairment and can't use stairs your doctor can write about your illness and the benefit of ground floor accom/ lifts) And then if there is any Welfare circumstances you should talk to a Housing Welfare Officer.

As the list in DCC now works by length of time it is not a case as some people have stated that "men are bottom of the list" or if you are not on their radar you won't be looked at", it is simply a matter of are you high enough on the list to be considered.

SDCC will be out unless you are looking for HAP as you are only on their list from last year (they won't allow you to carry your time from DCC as this would be unfair on applicants you would then skip who have spent years on SDCC's list)

Finally make sure you are noted for Voluntary Housing as this can sometimes go to people lower on the list so not everyone has marked their interest.

riclad

I think the council goes by how many points you have ,in the process
of deciding who gets a house first .
The points you have are calculated by how long you are on the list,your
medical status , is there any special medical issues that might merit
a large house, a house with a bathroom designed for an older person.Houses
are usually given to familys with 2 or more children.
My friend had one child ,after 7 years on rent allowance she got a new build 2bed
apartment in finglas .With such serious medical issues you can go to
your doctor and get a letter and bring it to the housing department
to explain your medical problems and the issues with the present accomodation .Go to threshold and crosscare for advice.
http://crosscare.ie/index.php/information-advocacy
Crosscare Housing and Welfare Information (CHWI),and, are based in Sackville Place and Cathedral Street. The projects provide direct information and advocacy services in the areas of housing, homelessness, social welfare, health and wellbeing

Cathredral st is just off o,connell street , past the burger king, and the tax office.Dublin 1
The crosscare office is opposite the church there .

caitlin12

Thanks a lot .I really appreciate everyone for the advice.
I have an appointment with my doctor for next week and I'll ask him to issue a letter related to all medical conditions that we have.
Just a quick question.I'm not sure what Crosscare will be able to do.Do they get in touch with DCC or SDCC?
And about the TD's,will Him/her be able to help me to get a proper house for my kids and a stable one.
I really hope that all this what we are going through to become just a nightmare.

athtrasna

caitlin12 wrote: »

Thanks a lot .I really appreciate everyone for the advice.
I have an appointment with my doctor for next week and I'll ask him to issue a letter related to all medical conditions that we have.
Just a quick question.I'm not sure what Crosscare will be able to do.Do they get in touch with DCC or SDCC?
And about the TD's,will Him/her be able to help me to get a proper house for my kids and a stable one.
I really hope that all this what we are going through to become just a nightmare.

Tds can't get you a council house. They can get you an update on your position but can't influence the allocation of houses.

BOHS

ballyharpat wrote: »

They will not decide the landlord has to do work-they may decide the house is uninhabitable and you have to move out, the landlord can fix it-if he has the money, if he doesn't, he may just rent it out to another tenant and the new tenant may rectify the situation themselves.

Not true, they will get a list of things that must be fixed (if there is any)

BOHS

riclad wrote: »

I think the council goes by how many points you have ,in the process
of deciding who gets a house first .
The points you have are calculated by how long you are on the list,your
medical status , is there any special medical issues that might merit
a large house, a house with a bathroom designed for an older person.Houses
are usually given to familys with 2 or more children.
My friend had one child ,after 7 years on rent allowance she got a new build 2bed
apartment in finglas .With such serious medical issues you can go to
your doctor and get a letter and bring it to the housing department
to explain your medical problems and the issues with the present accomodation .Go to threshold and crosscare for advice.
http://crosscare.ie/index.php/information-advocacy
Crosscare Housing and Welfare Information (CHWI),and, are based in Sackville Place and Cathedral Street. The projects provide direct information and advocacy services in the areas of housing, homelessness, social welfare, health and wellbeing

Cathredral st is just off o,connell street , past the burger king, and the tax office.Dublin 1
The crosscare office is opposite the church there .

Points system finished a few years ago and moved to time on the list

littleredspot

A couple of points. I'm intrigued as to why the op isn't asking for solutions to the damp problem. If it's an old house, it may be rising damp which is expensive and difficult to remedy but the vast majority of times people ask about damp/mould here it's due to the tenants usage of the house. Some small adjustments to the way people live in a property can solve it.

If the EHO visits and issues the landlord with a list of things that need repairing the landlord must comply or they are breaking the regulations. It's quite black and white.

The council requires that children over 10 of a different gender have separate rooms so there's a few years to go to get further up the list before that becomes an issue.

The_Conductor

OP- there are different types of dehumidifiers which work in different ways- and just because you used one and it failed to meet your expectations/needs- does not mean another won't work very well indeed. Do a little research- you may find that you can make your current accommodation work after all......

TresGats

I second that- I have a dehumidifier that works well once the house is at 15 degrees. Mine was 150e in Aldi, and I wouldn't be without it, as I am prone to allergies/ sinusitis. There are compressor types that work below 15C.Have a look into getting one that suits your needs for the time being anyway.
I was recently onto Crosscare regarding a problem for a friend who is in emergency accom with her disabled teenager for 12 months now. They share a room that is approx 8' x 10' in a so called hotel. Crosscare are excellent for free legal advice, and may put you in touch with other agencies who could help suitably house you.

ballyharpat

BOHS wrote: »

Not true, they will get a list of things that must be fixed (if there is any)

Not true, what the landlord can do, is decide he can't afford to fix them-what do you think happens then?

you cannot get blood from a stone, the council then says that you can no longer live there as it is uninhabitable and can refuse rent allowance-you cannot force a landlord to spend money, you can decide to leave, if things are not up to scratch or if you do not want to fix them yourself.

As I have already said, in my opinion, the smartest thing for this person to do, is to check out the damp problem themselves, it may be a minor issue, if they fix it, then their health problems should not recur-the other option, which a lot of people seem to suggest, is to keep being sick and getting sicker, in the hope that you will have more 'points' towards a council house.

I think the question should be-How can I improve my quality of life in these conditions? not -what is the best way for me to get a council house?

riclad

Crosscare will give you advice and put you in touch with other agencys if neccessary, give you general advice .Going to the local labour td,may help you,
you have nothing to lose.He,she will check are you being dealt fairly by the council ,you are in housing thats a danger to your health .

neonsofa

The_Conductor wrote: »

OP- there are different types of dehumidifiers which work in different ways- and just because you used one and it failed to meet your expectations/needs- does not mean another won't work very well indeed. Do a little research- you may find that you can make your current accommodation work after all......

I already asked a few questions in relation to the damp issue and it seems op is only concerned with finding alternative housing as opposed to trying to remedy the immediate health hazard, which is their prerogative but if there are no council houses available and it is causing health problems it would definitely be my first port of call. Like you say, it could be easily fixed and there is nothing stopping op from remedying the situation while also trying to source alternative accommodation.

BOHS

ballyharpat wrote: »

Not true, what the landlord can do, is decide he can't afford to fix them-what do you think happens then?

you cannot get blood from a stone, the council then says that you can no longer live there as it is uninhabitable and can refuse rent allowance-you cannot force a landlord to spend money, you can decide to leave, if things are not up to scratch or if you do not want to fix them yourself.

As I have already said, in my opinion, the smartest thing for this person to do, is to check out the damp problem themselves, it may be a minor issue, if they fix it, then their health problems should not recur-the other option, which a lot of people seem to suggest, is to keep being sick and getting sicker, in the hope that you will have more 'points' towards a council house.

I think the question should be-How can I improve my quality of life in these conditions? not -what is the best way for me to get a council house?

If the landlord isn't going to do the work for that tenant he can't just get rid of them and pass it on to another tenant, he will get a time frame as to when all the work needs to be complete or legal action will be taken. If he doesn't do it then he can't continue to rent whioch will be a lot more costly.

I agree with your opinion of it needs to be looked at for how to improve quality of life and not how do I mve up the list but that will always be looked at like that until they change how the system operates.

I don't understand why someone in their 20's/30's (Not talking about OP here) should be given a property for life. The waiting list should be allocated to serious medical and welfare cases before anyone else is looked at and then the rest should realistically be alloacted for 10 years...etc which should give time for people to get back on their feet/ save...etc

ballyharpat

And he can decide not to rent, there is no legislation that says he has to improve the property-it can be said that the council will not accept the property or that it is not inhabitable, but that doesn't mean he has to improve it.

One requirement for property to be up to council standards, is a fan or window that opens, in any form of wc, however, there are lots of properties that do not have this and they have passed building standards, but not council standards, hence part of the reason so many council houses remain idle-the requirements are often way ott compared to private rentals.

BOHS wrote: »

If the landlord isn't going to do the work for that tenant he can't just get rid of them and pass it on to another tenant, he will get a time frame as to when all the work needs to be complete or legal action will be taken. If he doesn't do it then he can't continue to rent whioch will be a lot more costly.

I agree with your opinion of it needs to be looked at for how to improve quality of life and not how do I mve up the list but that will always be looked at like that until they change how the system operates.

I don't understand why someone in their 20's/30's (Not talking about OP here) should be given a property for life. The waiting list should be allocated to serious medical and welfare cases before anyone else is looked at and then the rest should realistically be alloacted for 10 years...etc which should give time for people to get back on their feet/ save...etc

goz83

BOHS wrote: »

As the list in DCC now works by length of time it is not a case as some people have stated that "men are bottom of the list" or if you are not on their radar you won't be looked at", it is simply a matter of are you high enough on the list to be considered.

If that was true, my Brother would still be sleeping on couches. Stuff only got done when he was actively engaging with the council, submitting medical reports and other documentation to help him secure accommodation more quickly. Most TDs were useless and indeed they only got an update of the number my Brother was on the list, but one TD (or rather the secretary) was very helpful and was the reason my Brother is housed where he is now. Perhaps on paper they say it's based on length of time, but the reality is different.

athtrasna wrote: »

Tds can't get you a council house. They can get you an update on your position but can't influence the allocation of houses.

Its true that they can't get you a house, but if they want to, they can help move things along more quickly if there are exceptional circumstances to be considered. Pressing medical issues can be exceptional circumstances.

BOHS

goz83 wrote: »

If that was true, my Brother would still be sleeping on couches. Stuff only got done when he was actively engaging with the council, submitting medical reports and other documentation to help him secure accommodation more quickly. Most TDs were useless and indeed they only got an update of the number my Brother was on the list, but one TD (or rather the secretary) was very helpful and was the reason my Brother is housed where he is now. Perhaps on paper they say it's based on length of time, but the reality is different.



Its true that they can't get you a house, but if they want to, they can help move things along more quickly if there are exceptional circumstances to be considered. Pressing medical issues can be exceptional circumstances.

Of course a TD can submit medical letters on your behalf but by giving it to a TD instead of giving it yourself doesn't move it along any quicker, you would have the exact same outcome if you submitted it yourself as it's not the Council that decide on medical issues but an outside medical referee.

There are 2 priorities an applicant can apply for (Medical and Welfare) and neither are influenced by Local Reps.

The_Conductor

ballyharpat wrote: »

And he can decide not to rent, there is no legislation that says he has to improve the property-it can be said that the council will not accept the property or that it is not inhabitable, but that doesn't mean he has to improve it.

One requirement for property to be up to council standards, is a fan or window that opens, in any form of wc, however, there are lots of properties that do not have this and they have passed building standards, but not council standards, hence part of the reason so many council houses remain idle-the requirements are often way ott compared to private rentals.

A property has to comply with the standards that were valid when it was built- not the standards that are in place today. Thus a property may fail every single check on a council list- and still be fully standard's compliant- and qualify under every heading as a rental property.

If the council have a long and meandering wishlist that they'd like every property to meet- that is their prerogative- however, there is no onus any landlord to comply with their wishlist- and the only sanction the council have is to refuse to accept a private property in their schemes, which is their want, however, the landlord can simply then let it privately- which is also their want.

If councils want to specify all manner of standards for housing that regular residential housing does not have to comply with- let them- however, they will need to ensure that they are in a position to ensure supply- this is where the stumbling block is- they have some brightspark in a back room coming up with wonderful ideas for housing- but there is absolutely no consideration for how this will affect supply (obviously it throttles it)- nor any apparent care (implied or otherwise).

Its the same way- Minister Kelly changed all the rules regarding minimum sizes for apartments- and Minister Coveney has suddenly discovered there are no apartments being constructed in Dublin or Cork which are suitable for wheelchair users- as wider doors or hallways take from the already minimal sizes for other rooms- making the entire property non-compliant.

Law of unintended consequences.

BOHS

The_Conductor wrote: »

A property has to comply with the standards that were valid when it was built- not the standards that are in place today. Thus a property may fail every single check on a council list- and still be fully standard's compliant- and qualify under every heading as a rental property.

If the council have a long and meandering wishlist that they'd like every property to meet- that is their prerogative- however, there is no onus any landlord to comply with their wishlist- and the only sanction the council have is to refuse to accept a private property in their schemes, which is their want, however, the landlord can simply then let it privately- which is also their want.

If councils want to specify all manner of standards for housing that regular residential housing does not have to comply with- let them- however, they will need to ensure that they are in a position to ensure supply- this is where the stumbling block is- they have some brightspark in a back room coming up with wonderful ideas for housing- but there is absolutely no consideration for how this will affect supply (obviously it throttles it)- nor any apparent care (implied or otherwise).

Its the same way- Minister Kelly changed all the rules regarding minimum sizes for apartments- and Minister Coveney has suddenly discovered there are no apartments being constructed in Dublin or Cork which are suitable for wheelchair users- as wider doors or hallways take from the already minimal sizes for other rooms- making the entire property non-compliant.

Law of unintended consequences.

I think you are mixed up here. Environmental Health Officers are there to ensure that Private Rented Properties meet the standard and there is legal consequences if theyt do not comply.

http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-housing-private-rented-housing-environmental-health-section/inspections-private

The_Conductor

BOHS wrote: »

I think you are mixed up here. Environmental Health Officers are there to ensure that Private Rented Properties meet the standard and there is legal consequences if theyt do not comply.

http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-housing-private-rented-housing-environmental-health-section/inspections-private

Yes.
However, councils let properties (typically on 10 year leases) from landlords for social housing tenants. They go and put all manner of conditions over and above those that apply to the private rental sector on the properties they are letting. So- the landlords feck off and let them privately instead.........

goz83

BOHS wrote: »

Of course a TD can submit medical letters on your behalf but by giving it to a TD instead of giving it yourself doesn't move it along any quicker, you would have the exact same outcome if you submitted it yourself as it's not the Council that decide on medical issues but an outside medical referee.

There are 2 priorities an applicant can apply for (Medical and Welfare) and neither are influenced by Local Reps.

That is not what I experienced as recently as a few short months ago. Had a phone call not been made by a certain TDs secretary, I am certain that my Brother would still be waiting.

The number on the list often means feck all. How else can someone be in single digits for more than a year? It was only changed when he started to kick up a fuss.

athtrasna

goz83 wrote: »

That is not what I experienced as recently as a few short months ago. Had a phone call not been made by a certain TDs secretary, I am certain that my Brother would still be waiting.

The number on the list often means feck all. How else can someone be in single digits for more than a year? It was only changed when he started to kick up a fuss.

Coincidence, or an easily bullied housing official. There are some areas with dedicated public reps offices like medical cards or student grants but all a TD is supposed to be able to do in relation to housing is ask for updates .

BOHS

goz83 wrote: »

That is not what I experienced as recently as a few short months ago. Had a phone call not been made by a certain TDs secretary, I am certain that my Brother would still be waiting.

The number on the list often means feck all. How else can someone be in single digits for more than a year? It was only changed when he started to kick up a fuss.

Very easily, when you consider how many lists their are (approx 9 in DCC) and how few 1 bed vacancies can come up in certain areas

goz83

athtrasna wrote: »

Coincidence, or an easily bullied housing official. There are some areas with dedicated public reps offices like medical cards or student grants but all a TD is supposed to be able to do in relation to housing is ask for updates .

I'm not a believer in coincidence. But I do know that where there are rules, they can always be bent, or broken. Some people are fast tracked because of their contacts. My brother is aware that one of his fellow council neighbours was given a 3 bed duplex above him, despite only having one child. A close enough relative of hers is supposedly connected with the building.

There was contact with about 6 TDs over the years and a few councillors, who were only able to do as you say. The odd thing is that the TD (or secretary of said TD) was actually outside our constituency and still managed to pull the final strings and gave a good telling off to the local housing officer in our area.

BOHS wrote: »

Very easily, when you consider how many lists their are (approx 9 in DCC) and how few 1 bed vacancies can come up in certain areas

It is a 2 bed he was given. His circumstances changed when he took custody of his son around June last year. His number remained the same even when he was told it would be higher.

For at least a year, he was in single digits on the priority list without any change. Eventually he was number 1 on the list, which lasted for a good few weeks. I did some of the driving around bringing him to places to drop in forms and any of the officials he spoke to seemed gobsmacked that he was number 1 and still hadn't been housed.

In the end, the council were great to get the tenants into the apartments. They are the only residents since December and the people who paid for their apartments are still waiting to move in.

The_Conductor

goz83 wrote: »

The odd thing is that the TD (or secretary of said TD) was actually outside our constituency and still managed to pull the final strings and gave a good telling off to the local housing officer in our area.

If a TD did this- its a clearcut abuse of office, and if its brought to attention of the Oireachtas committee- the member (the TD) would face censure for their actions.

This is not how democracy works in Ireland- regardless of what people imagine.