Rent arrears and local authority tenants

Introduction

Your local authority rent is based on your ability to pay, so if your income is reduced you should contact the housing department of your local authority immediately to look for an adjustment.

If you find that you are falling behind with the rent because your income is reduced, it is vital to talk to your local authority or housing association and explain your situation as soon as possible. If you are in financial difficulty, the local authority or housing association should be able to help you sort this out so that you can pay a little bit off the rent arrears each week.

It is in everyone's interest to sort the problem out, without having to evict you. But if you cannot pay your rent and you fail to do anything about it, you may end up losing your home.

Notice to quit and eviction

Local authority tenants

Legally, a local authority in Ireland can evict you without any reason as long as the correct procedure is followed. This means first issuing a "notice to quit" and then applying to the courts for an order. However, in practice, local authorities in Ireland do not evict their tenants without reason and if you pay your rent and comply with other conditions of the tenancy, you will normally be able to stay in your home for as long as you want.

Housing association tenants

Although the legislation is different, housing associations in Ireland, like local authorities, can evict you without any reason as long as they follow the correct procedure. This means first issuing a "notice to quit" and then applying to the courts for an order. However, in practice, housing associations do not evict their tenants without reason and if you pay your rent and comply with other conditions of the tenancy, you will normally be able to stay in your home for as long as you want.

If you are in temporary accommodation provided by a housing association, your position is much weaker and legally the housing association does not even need to issue a "notice to quit". Again, however, in practice, housing associations do not evict their tenants without reason.

Where to apply

Further information about your rights, and notice to quit and eviction, is available from the housing department of your local authority or from your housing association.

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is a free, confidential service for people with debt and money management problems in Ireland. The MABS service is available through the 52 MABS offices located throughout the country. You can read more about the MABS service here.

The network of Citizens Information Centres throughout Ireland provide free advice, information and assistance about all aspects of housing in Ireland.

Threshold is a charitable organisation that provides advice, information and support to everyone on housing rights in Ireland. Contact it for free, confidential advice and information at:

Threshold

21 Stoneybatter
Dublin 7
IRELAND
Tel: +353 (0)1 678 6096
Fax: +353 (0)1 677 2407
Homepage: www.threshold.ie
Email: advice@threshold.ie