Council Waiting List

They do set priorities for people based on circumstances but eventually realised it was discriminatory to single men so changed it so they weren't always put to the bottom. You sound like you are near the top at this point but maybe a year or so to go. Check you aren't getting bumped down regularly and if you are maybe mention discrimination on gender if you are because they were meant to address this. If on the list 13 years you may have been party to the old system and could have been discriminated at some point so they may adjust if you point it out. As always be polite to whom ever you talk to as they are just doing their job.

Sorry if it cam across as I was suggesting you would be rude it wasn't my intent. All I can say is don't go over the threshold. You can explain it to your employer and they should understand. Reduce hours or don't take a pay rise if possible. Recheck the threshold and see if it moved or moving due to recent changes to the minimum wage. I don't know the system that well

Ask your council about their choice based lettings procedure. Properties are advertised weekly, with Fingal it is every Wednesday. Then you can express an interest if one appeals to you. If you are the person highest on the social list, it will be offered to you. Great system as it gives you a bit of control and preference to getting your own forever home that you enjoy living in. If you refuse the offer, you get barred from the CBL system for a year. It means that only people who actually want to live there will express the interest.

This is completely incorrect information. OP has been assessed as having a housing need. If income goes above the threshold, council should be notified and rent contributions from tenant increase. It would be fairly bonkers if the system cant provide housing for 13 years and the tenant is penalised for attempting to get themselves off the bread line. I would recommend only offering advice on subjects that you understand. This misinformation probably stressed the OP out.

Housing lists are dynamic and points based. You can move up and down depending on the needs of others versus your needs. You could get to #2 and then go back to 12 if more people join the list at that time and have greater needs. Until you get contacted with a property don't get your hopes up

Can I ask how you find out what number you are on each preference list?

Does your council use the choice based lettings system where you apply for houses as they come up online?

That used to be true, but was changed about 15(ish) years ago.

Now income is assessed when you go on the list, and again when you are about to be allocated a house.

This is not punishing you. It's simply giving the available housing to the people who need it most.

Im 13 years on the list. I send proof of income every year. My contributions have increased based on the increase in salary. Im moving into my house in April. I'm well over the income threshold but am still a one parent household. They cannot punish people or keep them in abject poverty just because their waiting list is so long. That would be insanely unfair. Maybe they mean people who try to hide their income or something? But if you keep them informed, all is well. I've been directly in this so I know.

As I said, maybe they are referring to people hiding their income. I'm with Fingal. I can only comment on my own experiences and how Ive worked my way out of poverty. I contacted them when promotion was being offered as it would put me over the threshold. Im on the HAP scheme too so that could change things. My main point is that if you keep in contact with the council about your circumstances, there are ways they can help. Telling someone to stay under the income threshold is insane. Just take a step back and think about it objectively. You were rude, I was not.

The yeah i believe you comment was rude. Im commenting about my own experiences and of dealing with fingal. SDCC may well do it differently. I've no idea which council OP is dealing with but the scaremongering about going over the threshold was worrying to me. OP should liaise with their council about the various schemes and options available. Ther are options if you are honest with them.

To me it is insane that different councils treat applicants differently. There should be the same supports available regardless of which council you deal with. Seems fingal are a good one to deal with, based on my personal experience anyway.