Rent Allowance v Market Rent

murphaph

Idbatterim wrote: »

Even if you could meet in the middle and make it 200, you would still be costing yourself E2400 a year, its simply too much IMO. The tenant may not see it this way, but they appear to have done bloody well for themselves and should enjoy it while it lasted....

The LL has essentially sheltered them from the real world for several years but I don't expect she'll get any thanks for it.

Idbatterim

that was my point, human nature I suppose, the tenant will probably feel shafted, but in reality like you say he or she has been sheltered from reality for several years...

homerno

MammaZita wrote: »

Thank you for the advice.

Yes I want to be as fair to the tenant as possible but at the same time I have to be realistic and on looking at daft again today it's actually €400 of a shortfall (€800 v €1,200) which is unsustainable.

Yes I intend providing the notice in writing by registered post and by email just to protect ourselves.

I assume she has no additional rights given that she's been there 4 years?

Should we inform Dept Soc Protection closer to the time to ensure they don't continue paying us rent?

hi i just replaced tenants in two houses in the last few weeks , the demand is unreal, if you advertise it well in advance you will get far more than you think you will get . your 400 shortfall you think you are missing out on is very likely to be even more, most landlord friends of mine say they will never accept rent allowance again regardless off the limits because of the way they were treated the last few years ,

small investor

Sometimes they will increase rent allowance. I was on 700 for a 1 bed flat, I wrote letter to tenant saying rent was going to 850 at end of month. Thought she'd move out. Was going to get private tenant. She came back to say they wud pay it. Try it and see what they will pay.

fussyonion

small investor wrote: »

Sometimes they will increase rent allowance. I was on 700 for a 1 bed flat, I wrote letter to tenant saying rent was going to 850 at end of month. Thought she'd move out. Was going to get private tenant. She came back to say they wud pay it. Try it and see what they will pay.

I have never heard of them increasing rent allowance.
I reckon your tenant told you a porky pie...more likely she's going to pay the difference herself, which is illegal.

MammaZita

fussyonion wrote: »

I have never heard of them increasing rent allowance.
I reckon your tenant told you a porky pie...more likely she's going to pay the difference herself, which is illegal.

They don't actually increase the rent allowance- it's a separate discretionary payment made directly to the tenant which they pass on to the landlord. I know a couple of landlord whose tenants are in receipt of such payments. How stupid were we to get hit with every cut in RA over the last 4 years while also charging well below market rate.

Anyway even if the tenant above is breaking the law, it's not the landlords problem. Once the rent is paid the landlord is not obliged to confirm the source of funds.

small investor

Nope, no law broken. Im in this game 9 years. In Fingal rents paid by welfare were 700 max for 1 bed. Rent paid directly to me. Was way under private rents. I had to get 850 one way or another. Its been increased, it is happening. Send letter stating ur required rent. Take it or leave it. And see what happens.

carpejugulum

So the government just gives someone 850 in addition to excessive cash payments to rent in Dublin? lol socialism

Jesus Wept

homerno wrote: »

most landlord friends of mine say they will never accept rent allowance again regardless off the limits because of the way they were treated the last few years ,

Yea people say lots of stuff, their tune would change if demand changed significantly.

jay0109

carpejugulum wrote: »

So the government just gives someone 850 in addition to excessive cash payments to rent in Dublin? lol socialism

Some people got 950 pm, as long as your pregnant of course
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hoping-for-a-place-to-start-new-life-with-her-baby-1.1832916

MammaZita

jay0109 wrote: »

Some people got 950 pm, as long as your pregnant of course
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hoping-for-a-place-to-start-new-life-with-her-baby-1.1832916

Wow! Just wow!

foggy_lad

MammaZita wrote: »

Wow! Just wow!

How about this,

she stayed for a few days in a friend’s mother’s house. “But she was trying to tell me what to do, so I came into town.”

The hostels she has been staying in are adult womens hostels and she is 19 so is an adult so why do all the do-gooders want to treat her like a child?

She got a place in the Regina Ceoli hostel, a shelter for women. “There was no one my age. I had my own room but it was awful there.”

What are people like this expecting?

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hoping-for-a-place-to-start-new-life-with-her-baby-1.1832916

small investor

Yes I read that article. The Gov pay 500 towards my clients rent, she pays 350 and in fairness she has tried to pay the rest but she genuinely cannot find work. The 950 stuff is not paid, the client pays according to their circumstances. 950 is the max a landlord can charge. I was an adult at 17 so yes that article was crazy. I was also a single parent and there was no rent allowance 26 years ago. But in fairness some people are desperately looking for work that just isnt there now.

The_Conductor

Our Year wrote: »

Yea people say lots of stuff, their tune would change if demand changed significantly.

Demand is only going to get tighter in the major urban conurbations- there is extremely limited development happening, where people actually want to live. Sure- we have over 8,000 vacant dwellings in Carrick-on-Shannon- but hey, unless you're looking for a Hen/Stag venue- this is hardly cause for celebration.

People want to live in particular locations. The potential to build in these locations- is limited. On pre-existing sites that were once mothballed- councils are allowing lower density housing than they had previously granted PP for- such as Lucan, and the actions of South Dublin Co. Co.

We do not have a joined up development policy- the only tune that is going to change- is that of bank managers, to people who profess a want to become BTL landlords- its the best return a bank manager can make (almost 5% per annum- and very secure- compared to boomtime loans).

No Pants

she stayed for a few days in a friend’s mother’s house. “But she was trying to tell me what to do, so I came into town.”

I find it bizarre that this can be accepted as a valid excuse by a housing authority. She should simply be told to "suck it up" and sent packing. She is not an emergency case if she can turn down offers of accommodation.

Zamboni

jay0109 wrote: »

Some people got 950 pm, as long as your pregnant of course
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hoping-for-a-place-to-start-new-life-with-her-baby-1.1832916

So people who privately rent (and procreate within their means) bust their asses working to afford rent and also pay tax which is then handed freely to other people who don't work or contribute to society but have managed to copulate with the opposite sex.

And then we are supposed to feel sorry for them too???

The mind boggles.

Icepick

jay0109 wrote: »

Some people got 950 pm, as long as your pregnant of course
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hoping-for-a-place-to-start-new-life-with-her-baby-1.1832916

That's more than some working couples can afford (if they want to save).
Austerity is only for people in private employment.

jay0109

The Irish Times have been running loads of similar 'homeless' stories recently. Looks like an agenda on the go, but how they feel any working person could have sympathy for a story like this is beyond me

No Pants

jay0109 wrote: »

The Irish Times have been running loads of similar 'homeless' stories recently. Looks like an agenda on the go, but how they feel any working person could have sympathy for a story like this is beyond me

The person in the article is no more homeless than I would be if I decided to stand on the footpath outside my house.

zef

There is a backstory to this case , as one is not put into state care lightly. Her family don't sound the supportive type.
I'm sure at least one of you condemning her 'behaviour' of having a baby has been going on about how terrible the Tuam home and mother and baby homes were. Is that where she belongs for her choice have a child?

I am so sick of this anti rent allowance vibe. The bloody govt neglected to build enough council homes since the boom started, as well as selling council homes to the tenants.

Such venom directed at a 19 year old pregnant girl is misplaced.
Who knows what was going on at the friends mothers that prompted her to leave...

No Pants

zef wrote: »

Who knows what was going on at the friends mothers that prompted her to leave...

In her own words:

“But she was trying to tell me what to do, so I came into town.”

Imagine being told what to do by an adult when living under their roof? When she is finally housed, the paint scheme might not suit. Or the house is in the wrong area or some other nonsense. :rolleyes:

zef wrote: »

I'm sure at least one of you condemning her 'behaviour' of having a baby has been going on about how terrible the Tuam home and mother and baby homes were. Is that where she belongs for her choice have a child?

There's some merit to a larger housing facility for people who can't/won't take responsibility for looking after themselves. It would certainly be less expensive than providing individual houses or apartments, which is important to the people who will actually foot the bill. Living there would be entirely voluntary, but there would be no other accommodation provided.

zef wrote: »

There is a backstory to this case , as one is not put into state care lightly. Her family don't sound the supportive type.

Homeless and with no family support, that's an excellent time to get pregnant. Why don't we all just send her our wallets right now. :rolleyes:

Zamboni

zef wrote: »

Such venom directed at a 19 year old pregnant girl is misplaced...

I would have nothing personal against this girl but it is difficult to reconcile when I know working couples who struggle to bring in rent of €1,000 and pay for chilcare with no assistance whatsoever.
A pregnant single mother gets €950 for RA for contributing nothing to the coffers.

Surely you can see the problem there???

zef

Yes, I can see your point of view, but this is a teenager that seems to have lost her way in life,being in care can't have been easy.
And in reality, what is the alternative for her? 'Staying at a friends mum's ' was hardly going to be s long term solution. Perhaps the woman had ulterior motives, who knows?
First It was mother and baby homes, then council houses. Now both no longer suit as there are families of 5 or more waiting on the housing list.
Homelessness , especially that of children, is an issue that deserves attention in the Media as it needs to be addressed.

jay0109

Getting pregnant should'nt be a 'long term solution' either, but there you go

TheDoc

Zamboni wrote: »

I would have nothing personal against this girl but it is difficult to reconcile when I know working couples who struggle to bring in rent of €1,000 and pay for chilcare with no assistance whatsoever.
A pregnant single mother gets €950 for RA for contributing nothing to the coffers.

Surely you can see the problem there???

It always a point of conflict and contention with me.

Myself and the girlfriend were happy in our old apartment, spacious and cheap per month, we could deal with the cold that came in each winter.

Then with the suprise news of baby on the way, we decided to make the move early in order to get settled before the baby arrives. Talk about bad timing.

Rent prices sky rocketed in Dublin start of this year, and while I'm somewhere I am absolutely delighted with, I'm struggling a little each month towards the end. Personally don't think I should be, I've a good job with a decent income for my age, but I just seem to be staring down the barel at sub €100 the week before payday.

We were living in Donabate, two bed apartment nicely placed smack bang in the town mains paying €700 a month. Made the move to Swords, just around the corner from where I grew up, now paying €1250 for a three bed house.

We were about two days before being due to leave Donabate after giving notice, until finding the new place. Had no idea how mental things were in the market, and you kinda dont know until you are looking. Prices skyrocketed, dodgy landlords and estate agents taking our deposit and agreeing in principle, then getting a higher offer and cancelling on us. In hindsight where I am now is definitly the best place from what we viewed, but I know I'm paying over the odds which is annoying.

My girlfriend has struggled with employment. She isnt a slacker, just never had the environment where she could afford college etc., so finding work in a highly competitive workforce has been tough. Thankfully she made the call to be a stay at home mother and look after our newborn. And I say thankfully, because if we had to pay for childcare, well to be blunt we simply couldnt. Nearly €800 a month for childcare is the sort of figures I got from friends in the same area as me, thats what they pay. **** me.

So when I see people been given benefit it does somewhat irk me. Especially when the state "assume" that my income is enough to subsidise my family, not entitle my partner to any social welfare or benefit, and I'm carrying all the financial stress.

I somewhat sympathise with the hardline cases, but at the same time get frustrated that I work my bollox off everyday, nad in reality have little to show for it in terms of disposible income, after the rent and bills are paid.

I'm sure for someone with slitghly less pride and morals, in my position, they could probably explode the social welfare for rent allowance and other things, as me and the girlfriend, well, arnt married. But I've too much pride for that.

The unfortunate thing, and a definitive problem with the system, is that every now and again I do a bit of looking, to see if there is something that I can do to get a few quid out of the state. Benefit fraud or fiddling seems to be so rampant when I hear peope talking about it, it nearly makes me feel the fool for not being involved.

jay0109

TheDoc wrote: »

The unfortunate thing, and a definitive problem with the system, is that every now and again I do a bit of looking, to see if there is something that I can do to get a few quid out of the state. Benefit fraud or fiddling seems to be so rampant when I hear peope talking about it, it nearly makes me feel the fool for not being involved.

What you need to do is 'move' home (as it's close to you now in Swords) and let your GF claim as a single mother. On no account get married until your income greatly improves.
Thats how to play the system in this country.

And then you have to read the bs reports from the ESRI about it paying more to work v's the dole/rent allowance. They may fool the 'intelegentsia' over at the Irish Times, but most people know it not to be true

The_Morrigan

jay0109 wrote: »

What you need to do is 'move' home (as it's close to you now in Swords) and let your GF claim as a single mother. On no account get married until your income greatly improves.
Thats how to play the system in this country.

And then you have to read the bs reports from the ESRI about it paying more to work v's the dole/rent allowance. They may fool the 'intelegentsia' over at the Irish Times, but most people know it not to be true

Please don't advocate fraud on the forum.
Thanks

No Pants

TheDoc wrote: »

I'm sure for someone with slitghly less pride and morals, in my position, they could probably explode the social welfare for rent allowance and other things, as me and the girlfriend, well, arnt married. But I've too much pride for that.

The Social would consider you as married regardless.