Sharing a house on rent allowance

stevek93

Hi all,

I am currently sharing a house and looking to apply for rent allowance. The landlord is a also living in the house, does he need to be registered with the tenancy board in order for him to receive the rent allowance? I have all the necessary paperwork from the rent allowance pack completed expect the tenancy agreement.

djimi

Assuming you are not living with the landlord, then he should be registered with the PRTB regardless. I dont know how this affects your ability to apply for RA.

stevek93

No I am living with the landlord.

djimi

Then its not a tenancy and he doesnt have to register it with the PRTB.

foggy_lad

stevek93 wrote: »

No I am living with the landlord.

If you are living with the landlord in a relationship then it is not a tenancy and you will not get any rent allowance.

stevek93

No relationship, am sharing a house. I am wondering how I prove my tenancy agreement when the landlord is not registered with the tenancy board?

yermandan

Just get him to draught up a signed letter of agreement stating the terms of your arrangement. That will suffice

stevek93

Will that work?

yermandan

Yes. You don't get a lease as the owner lives there so instead, you need proof from the owner that you are renting a room. I work in the sector!

Good luck

stevek93

Grand so thanks.

odds_on

Any writen agreement should be entitled "Licence Agreement" and a statement similar to:"This agreement creates a licence to occupy a room or rooms in a resident landlord’s own home and it is not a tenancy. Therefore, it is outside the scope of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004."

Many of the terms of a written licence agreement are similar to those of a tenancy agreement except as regards exclusive use. A licensee has no exclusive use of any part of a property, no even his/her bedroom.

The RA office may want to know how the utility bills are paid, included in the rent (and if so, what proportion) or separately.

stevek93

Quick update on this,

I have been speaking with the local community welfare officer in the area recently. Have told him my circumstances that I am living with the landlord renting a room. I was told that a dafted letter from the landlord was not acceptable and to come back with a legal lease agreement. Also that if the landlord is not registered with the PTRB he will go to jail.

In reading the "Residential Tenancies Act 2004" it clearly states that it does not apply to "rent a room" or other arrangements whereby the landlord is living in the dwelling.

What I cannot understand is why do I need a legal lease agreement when I am renting a room in the landlords house and the fact the landlord needs to be registered with the PTRB when he only owns one property which he is living in with myself?

D3PO

your CWO is a clown and doesn't know what they are talking about.

snubbleste

Your CWO is clearly wrong.
Make them aware of this in writing and/or complain to their superior.

stevek93

This is the letter that the CWO officer refused.

Gatling

Your probably better off finding somewhere affordable on your own

stevek93

Gatling wrote: »

Your probably better off finding somewhere affordable on your own

Excuse me do you want to pay my rent? I think not, if I could afford rented accommodation without the need of the rent allowance do you not think I would be doing so?

Gatling

stevek93 wrote: »

Excuse me do you want to pay my rent? I think not, if I could afford rented accommodation without the need of the rent allowance do you not think I would be doing so?

Its called a suggestion as it stands you could be literally homeless tomorrow if your landlord decided to want you out

snubbleste

stevek93 wrote: »

This is the letter that the CWO officer refused.

Has the CWO refused you rent supplement?
If so, definitely appeal to their supervisor. They used to be called SCWO, dunno what they are called now.

Pawwed Rig

stevek93 wrote: »

Quick update on this,

I have been speaking with the local community welfare officer in the area recently. Have told him my circumstances that I am living with the landlord renting a room. I was told that a dafted letter from the landlord was not acceptable and to come back with a legal lease agreement.

Your landlord could give you a lease agreement but it is probably not worth the paper it is written on. Maybe ask for the CWO's supervisor as they have zero grasp of this type of tenancy.

stevek93 wrote: »

Also that if the landlord is not registered with the PTRB he will go to jail.

hahaha what a moron.

Gatling

Op have you been accepted on to the housing list or applied to yet

stevek93

Gatling wrote: »

Its called a suggestion as it stands you could be literally homeless tomorrow if your landlord decided to want you out

Yes true, but do you understand how hard it is to find accommodation that will accept rent allowance? And yes I am currently on the housing list.

stevek93

snubbleste wrote: »

Has the CWO refused you rent supplement?
If so, definitely appeal to their supervisor. They used to be called SCWO, dunno what they are called now.

Yes twice, first time I was given outdated forums.

Richard Dower

stevek93 wrote: »

Yes true, but do you understand how hard it is to find accommodation that will accept rent allowance? And yes I am currently on the housing list.

Its damn near impossible mate!....even worse is the cap limits, try finding a place for 390pm..lol!

And even less landlords want anything to di with RAS.

stevek93

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Your landlord could give you a lease agreement but it is probably not worth the paper it is written on. Maybe ask for the CWO's supervisor as they have zero grasp of this type of tenancy.



hahaha what a moron.

I asked the CWO for a sample of a lease agreement and said no, the attachment https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/224359/261195.jpg is what he refused. The problem I have is I was made homeless last month the landlord I knew as a friend before hand told myself I could stay in his spare room once I contribute to a means of rent a month. He has no acknowledge of letting out a room or dwelling which I am put in the firing line.

Gatling

stevek93 wrote: »

Yes true, but do you understand how hard it is to find accommodation that will accept rent allowance? And yes I am currently on the housing list.

Believe me I do and its getting harder every year

stevek93

Richard Dower wrote: »

Its damn near impossible mate!....even worse is the cap limits, try finding a place for 390pm..lol!

And even less landlords want anything to di with RAS.

The rates have gone up 17th of last month which is somewhat of a help.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html

Richard Dower

stevek93 wrote: »

The rates have gone up 17th of last month which is somewhat of a help.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html

By how much a week?....any numbers for Limerick?

stevek93

Richard Dower wrote: »

By how much a week?....any numbers for Limerick?

All on the website I know it used to be €475 a month in Dublin.

stevek93

Could someone please explain to me what a licence agreement is oppose to a tendency agreement. Is it a legal letter or something the landlord can daft up himself?

http://www.irishlandlord.com/index.aspx?page=infocentre_article_view&id=41

If you choose to rent out a room(s) in your home, you are not covered by landlord/tenant legislation in Ireland. This means that you are not obliged to register with the PRTB as a landlord, provide a rent book to the tenant or ensure that the accommodation provided meets any minimum physical standards.

This also means that private tenants living in your principal home are living under a "Licensee Agreement" not a tenancy agreement and are really only entitled to "reasonable notice" if you choose to terminate the agreement. Tenants are, however, entitled to refer disputes regarding periods of reasonable notice, retention of deposits, and disputes regarding deductions from rent for damage to property that is over and above normal "wear and tear" to the Small Claims Court.

djimi

Its my understanding that it means very little. Very few of the clauses that could be written into it would have any legal bearing, and it would be more about coming to an understanding between owner and lodger about how they want the letting to play out.