Applying for Council House

carolinej

hi all, just looking for some advice please. Im in a situation whereby we're renting a house thats overcrowded. long story short my partners 10yr old son is in the room with us.

Im working full time but it wouldnt be a big wage. OH not working and he's on the council waiting list. Im at breaking point with our living situation and the child needs his own room aswell.

anyway does the fact Im working greatly affect if we applied for a council house & actively went about it. I see on Responds website they've 2 available houses near us. Just testing the waters here before we make official enquiries. i really dont know anything about it.

thanks from a desperate woman....

Butters1979

Short answer, the fact you're working obviously effects your income, which effects your eligibility. But it does not mean a blanket no by any means.

The assessment process is based on net income. For 2 adults 1 child, depending on where you are living that can be between €26,875 and €37,625


Once they decide you're eligible, then they assess need, and overcrowding is indeed a criteria for need.

Need

When deciding whether your household is in need of social housing, the housing authority must consider the following questions in relation to your current accommodation:

• Is it an institution, emergency accommodation or hostel?
• Is it overcrowded?
• Is it fit for human habitation?
• Does it meet the accommodation requirements of a household member with a disability?
• If it is shared with another household, have you a reasonable requirement for separate accommodation?
• Is it unsuitable for your household’s adequate housing in any other material respect, having regard to particular household circumstances, or on exceptional medical or compassionate grounds?

It's all here,

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/local_authority_and_social_housing/applying_for_local_authority_housing.html

Read through that then apply. See what they say. There's a link on that site that shows a maximum net income to be eligible. It depends on location as well other things.

Gatling

There no such thing as actively looking for a council house,
Your housed on your needs ..
Are you's applying together or separate either way depending on where you live it's a 8-10+ year wait as it is to be housed ,
Does his child live with you's full time.

Mrs OBumble

Gatling wrote: »

There no such thing as actively looking for a council house,
Your housed on your needs ..

That's true.

But in areas where a voluntary housing association (eg Respond) has difficult filling houses (yes, it can happen), it is sometimes possible to move things along by suggesting yourself to the voluntary association, and having them ask if the council would be willing to nominate you for the house.




OP, the fact that you are working is irrelevant, so long as your family income is under the council's housing eligibility threshold for the area.

Gatling

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

That's true.

But in areas where a voluntary housing association (eg Respond) has difficult filling houses (yes, it can happen), it is sometimes possible to move things along by suggesting yourself to the voluntary association, and having them ask if the council would be willing to nominate you for the house.
.

They would need to be on the choice based letting system and agree to accept a property from outside the council it's simply ticking a box on the application thought .

carolinej

from looking at the rates yeah we would be under. as I said Im on a small wage. yes the child is now full time with us. according to respond site theres 2 houses in their estate available & we live in a small village. afaik no council houses in any if the estates but we have no problem moving to surrounding villages/small towns
theres a really severe shortage of rental houses in area we live in and any available are looking at €650 plus a month. we cant afford that. maybe waiting times not as long in rural as urban areas