Can I be refused a council house for earning too much?

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:00pm #1

Could anyone tell me if I could be refused a council house if myself and partner earn too much? We've been on the list for 9 years now we also have 2 children and only recently my wife got a job which means we both work full time, would our combined wage cause problems?

21-02-2020 10:01pm

Filepio wrote: »

Could anyone tell me if I could be refused a council house if myself and partner earn too much? We've been on the list for 9 years now and only recently my wife got a job which means we both work full time, would our combined wage cause problems?

You mean, if you can afford to house yourselves?

dartboardio · 21-02-2020 10:02pm

Surely not as been given a council house isn't based on assessment, getting onto the council list is?

(I would have thought..)

Surely once you're on the council list you're eligible for a council house, until you take yourself off of it or win the lotto ?

Depends what your combined income is...

I mean if your combined income is 40k then I'm sure you're morally still entitled but obviously if someone was being a little greedy and they're combined income was 80/100k a year then I'd be taking myself off of it.

Eric Cartman · 21-02-2020 10:03pm

JayZeus wrote: »

You mean, if you can afford to house yourselves?

I desperatly hope the answer to this question is not 'here wife, pack that job in'

Shefwedfan · 21-02-2020 10:05pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I desperatly hope the answer to this question is not 'here wife, pack that job in'

In a lot of cases it is....

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:06pm

We cant afford to house ourselves as we dont earn that much but is there a maximum earning per household if we exceed might cause a refusal? I would hate to be refused after waiting for so long and that my wife recently got a job

Eric Cartman · 21-02-2020 10:07pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

In a lot of cases it is....

voluntarily leaving a job while on the list should have you sent to the bottom of the list. Attending 50 job interviews and having the interviewer claim that you did make an honest and full effort to secure employment should be required to keep your place.

Eric Cartman · 21-02-2020 10:07pm

Filepio wrote: »

We cant afford to house ourselves as we dont earn that much but is there a maximum earning per household if we exceed might cause a refusal? I would hate to be refused after waiting for so long and that my wife recently got a job

I believe 50k is the threshold but im sure somebody can confirm or deny that.

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:07pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I desperatly hope the answer to this question is not 'here wife, pack that job in'

No not at all.. I was just putting the question out there to understand what way it works

dartboardio · 21-02-2020 10:09pm

Filepio wrote: »

No not at all.. I was just putting the question out there to understand what way it works

Put it this way, when you're given an offer of a house nobody will be reviewing your income. They would have done that when you applied to get onto the housing list

You'll be given the council house on the basis that you're on the housing list already, not your current income

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:10pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I believe 50k is the threshold but im sure somebody can confirm or deny that.

Hopefully that's the case, I read on the council site that 2 adults and 2 children is 38,500 but I dunno if that is when applying to get on the list? We wouldn't make 50k between us

BabysCoffee · 21-02-2020 10:11pm

Filepio wrote: »

We cant afford to house ourselves as we dont earn that much but is there a maximum earning per household if we exceed might cause a refusal? I would hate to be refused after waiting for so long and that my wife recently got a job

Are you claiming all that you are entitled to i.e the family income supplement
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html

punisher5112 · 21-02-2020 10:11pm

Plenty get a house where both are working but what you pay will be decided on the amount earned.

Redmen6 · 21-02-2020 10:12pm

citizens information website will give you the info on income thresholds and how income is assessed.

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:14pm

BabysCoffee wrote: »

Are you claiming all that you are entitled to i.e the family income supplement
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/family_income_supplement.html

We are getting HAP at the moment

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:15pm

Thanks to everyone so far with your help, any information helps. Cheers

Shefwedfan · 21-02-2020 10:17pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

voluntarily leaving a job while on the list should have you sent to the bottom of the list. Attending 50 job interviews and having the interviewer claim that you did make an honest and full effort to secure employment should be required to keep your place.

Hard to prove they left voluntarily....

Hard to also prove they didn’t make an honest attempt at the interview.....

100% agree with you by the way

Plumbthedepths · 21-02-2020 10:18pm

Your rent will be assessed on your income. So if your income exceeds the threshold I can see any offer of housing been withdrawn . Although each council seems to make their own decisions.

Sleeper12 · 21-02-2020 10:20pm

punisher5112 wrote:

Plenty get a house where both are working but what you pay will be decided on the amount earned.

Once in the council House are they ever assessed again? If income doubled let's say or what if they won 200k on lotto?

Redmen6 · 21-02-2020 10:21pm

Filepio wrote: »

Thanks to everyone so far with your help, any information helps. Cheers

It’s worth making an appointment with Citizens Information, they will give you impartial and accurate advice

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 21-02-2020 10:21pm

Filepio wrote: »

Could anyone tell me if I could be refused a council house if myself and partner earn too much? We've been on the list for 9 years now we also have 2 children and only recently my wife got a job which means we both work full time, would our combined wage cause problems?

If you exceed the income limits (this varies by location and all limits are listed online) then you are no longer eligible. When you have been assessed and placed on the housing list the following applies:

"Before offering you accommodation, the local authority must review its assessment of your application and confirm that your household still qualifies.

Local authorities are also required to review all applications on their housing lists each year and prepare a summary report.

They contact all households on their housing lists to confirm that they still qualify for social housing support. They also request information about income, family size and current housing conditions.

If your circumstances change, you should tell the local authority so that it can update your household’s record".

It's all available on citizens information site.

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:24pm

Sean Shy Larvae wrote: »

If you exceed the income limits (this varies by location and all limits are listed online) then you are no longer eligible. When you have been assessed and placed on the housing list the following applies:

"Before offering you accommodation, the local authority must review its assessment of your application and confirm that your household still qualifies.

Local authorities are also required to review all applications on their housing lists each year and prepare a summary report.

They contact all households on their housing lists to confirm that they still qualify for social housing support. They also request information about income, family size and current housing conditions.

If your circumstances change, you should tell the local authority so that it can update your household’s record".

It's all available on citizens information site.

Thanks for that, nowhere says what the threshold is when offered a property, probably wont be housed for another few years but with everyone help so far I kinda know what to expect now... thanks again.

BanditLuke · 21-02-2020 10:24pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

voluntarily leaving a job while on the list should have you sent to the bottom of the list. Attending 50 job interviews and having the interviewer claim that you did make an honest and full effort to secure employment should be required to keep your place.

In your dreams

BanditLuke · 21-02-2020 10:24pm

Filepio wrote: »

Thanks for that, nowhere says what the threshold is when offered a property, probably wont be housed for another few years but with everyone help so far I kinda know what to expect now... thanks again.

Best of luck buddy. Hope something comes up for you soon.

Plumbthedepths · 21-02-2020 10:25pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Once in the council House are they ever assessed again? If income doubled let's say or what if they won 200k on lotto?

I lived in a council house '99 to '04 assessed every year by submitting P60. My mortgage repayments were less on the home we bought in '04.

Eric Cartman · 21-02-2020 10:26pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

In your dreams

In my dreams getting social housing is equally as hard to get as working 40 hours a week and saving for a decade, staying out of legal trouble and avoiding substance addictions, like most people

guy101 · 21-02-2020 10:27pm

Filepio wrote: »

Could anyone tell me if I could be refused a council house if myself and partner earn too much? We've been on the list for 9 years now we also have 2 children and only recently my wife got a job which means we both work full time, would our combined wage cause problems?

Here you go.

colm_mcm · 21-02-2020 10:28pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I lived in a council house '99 to '04 assessed every year by submitting P60. My mortgage repayments were less on the home we bought in '04.

Can you put some numbers on that? Did you have an unusually small mortgage?

BanditLuke · 21-02-2020 10:28pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

In my dreams getting social housing is equally as hard to get as working 40 hours a week and saving for a decade, staying out of legal trouble and avoiding substance addictions, like most people

Well none of the stuff you mentioned makes sense but whatever keeps you happy.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 21-02-2020 10:29pm

I wish I could get a council house but unfortunately I’m not clever enough. I work for a living, I don’t get paid enough to buy a house but I earn too much to get one handed to me.

What can I get OP?

Plumbthedepths · 21-02-2020 10:31pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Can you put some numbers on that? Did you have an unusually small mortgage?

I paid rent every week, in my last year our weekly rent was €124 ( 124×52=€537 pm), our mortgage repayments for the first two years were fixed at €510 per month.

BanditLuke · 21-02-2020 10:32pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I paid rent every week, in my last year our weekly rent was €124, our mortgage repayments for the first two years were fixed at €510 per month.

Wish our rent was that cheap on our social house.

Plumbthedepths · 21-02-2020 10:33pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

Wish our rent was that cheap on our social house.

16 years ago 2004.

BanditLuke · 21-02-2020 10:35pm

Hunky Monster wrote: »

I wish I could get a council house but unfortunately I’m not clever enough. I work for a living, I don’t get paid enough to buy a house but I earn too much to get one handed to me.

What can I get OP?

Good news, you can get a social house if you work. We've had ours years and it's enabled us to save for a house of our own. Good luck

BanditLuke · 21-02-2020 10:35pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

16 years ago 2004.

Ah sorry missed that bit. It's a heck of a lot more now for a working couple

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 21-02-2020 10:36pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

Good news, you can get a social house if you work. We've had ours years and it's enabled us to save for a house of our own. Good luck

Good luck is right. Single white man.

I will always be bottom of the list.

Plumbthedepths · 21-02-2020 10:37pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

Ah sorry missed that bit. It's a heck of a lot more now for a working couple

True wages have also increased in that period.

Sleeper12 · 21-02-2020 10:37pm

Plumbthedepths wrote:

I lived in a council house '99 to '04 assessed every year by submitting P60. My mortgage repayments were less on the home we bought in '04.

Thanks for that.

If you believed half of the posters here they'd have you believe that everyone gets free houses for life

dartboardio · 21-02-2020 10:37pm

Any 'rules' DSP have seem to be a bit lax anyway... a bit too lax if you ask me.

Their imaginary '9 week disqualification' from a social welfare payment if you walk out of a job or are sacked, is basically non existent, despite being on every website/information booklet!

No wonder people take the piss..

I walked out of a job recently (silly me, yes) had been debating it for a few months.

I went to the SW office on the Friday and the claim was approved by the Monday.. no mention of this 9 week disqualification whatsoever.

Plumbthedepths · 21-02-2020 10:40pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Thanks for that.

If you believed half of the posters here they'd have you believe that everyone gets free houses for life

Yeah I know it's terrible when someone with a little knowledge sheds a little light on the subject. My mortgage was not unusually small, it was €144,000. 7 years left , monthly payments €685 now. If I were still a council tenant it would exceed my present mortgage payments. I know what a tracker mortgage is. ;-)

Guy:Incognito · 21-02-2020 10:41pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I believe 50k is the threshold but im sure somebody can confirm or deny that.

As far as I remember, up till a couple of years ago it was 36k or so for a couple with 1 or 2 kids. (edit 38.5k apparently)

dartboardio wrote: »

Surely not as been given a council house isn't based on assessment, getting onto the council list is?

(I would have thought..)

Surely once you're on the council list you're eligible for a council house, until you take yourself off of it or win the lotto ?

Depends what your combined income is...

I mean if your combined income is 40k then I'm sure you're morally still entitled but obviously if someone was being a little greedy and they're combined income was 80/100k a year then I'd be taking myself off of it.

There are ongoing assessments. Often you are asked to fill in an online form to declare yourself still eligible.

ldy4mxonucwsq6 · 21-02-2020 10:42pm

Filepio wrote: »

Thanks for that, nowhere says what the threshold is when offered a property, probably wont be housed for another few years but with everyone help so far I kinda know what to expect now... thanks again.

Depends on your local council/location but the max household income for 2 adults with 2 kids is €38,500. Some councils have lower limits too (for example Westmeath is €27,500) so you really need to check the maximum for your area, but is combined income is over €38,500 (net income) you're probably not eligible.

Filepio · 21-02-2020 10:54pm

Sean Shy Larvae wrote: »

Depends on your local council/location but the max household income for 2 adults with 2 kids is €38,500. Some councils have lower limits too (for example Westmeath is €27,500) so you really need to check the maximum for your area, but is combined income is over €38,500 (net income) you're probably not eligible.

Yeah I had a feeling that might be the case, I think citizens advise have a live chat on their site, I'll have a chat with them on Monday

TSQ · 21-02-2020 11:14pm

Sean Shy Larvae wrote: »

Depends on your local council/location but the max household income for 2 adults with 2 kids is €38,500. Some councils have lower limits too (for example Westmeath is €27,500) so you really need to check the maximum for your area, but is combined income is over €38,500 (net income) you're probably not eligible.

I believe those figures are for NET income.... i.e. after tax income, plus some living expenses are also deducted from gross income to reach the qualifying income level.

Graham · 21-02-2020 11:48pm

Mod Note

If you have no (genuine helpful) advice for the OP. Do not post.

Rezident · 21-02-2020 11:57pm

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22-02-2020 12:14am

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Plumbthedepths · 22-02-2020 12:16am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

<snip>

Go to the housing office in your LA. You will be assessed on set criteria.

punisher5112 · 22-02-2020 9:53am

Don't forget most of those in DCC area that work and earn a good wage are in arrears or not paying the council rent money at all.....

Can I be refused a council house for earning too much?

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