A helpline for families at risk of homelessness has been able to assist a quarter of callers successfully to remain in their homes since it started three months ago. However, some of them still face the prospect of losing their home.
The Tenancy Protection Service (TPS) is operated by housing charity Threshold on behalf of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. Since it began taking calls on June 16th last, it has had 1,707 calls, of which 740 were from families at serious risk of losing their private rented accommodation.
The service has been able to protect 191 of these from losing their homes, of which 109 are protected for at least 13 weeks.
Of the remaining 549, some are still in negotiation with landlords, while at least one has lost their home and is in emergency accommodation.
The service was established in response to the growing crisis of families with children losing their homes in Dublin.
Since January more than 300 families, including almost 650 children, have become homeless in the Dublin region.
The majority of these have been on rent supplement and have become homeless for a variety of reasons, including rent increases, the home being repossessed by the landlord’s bank, or the landlord needing the dwelling vacated.
No previous problems
TPS assistant manager Fionnughla McLoughlin said it was receiving “about 50 calls a day” with a significant proportion coming from the Blanchardstown and Fingal areas.
“The reason they’re at risk of losing their homes?” she responded by repeating the question. “Purely economic,” she answered.
“In the majority of cases there’s no history of any problems and most are new people who have never been in this position before.”
The average rent increase being sought is “about €25 a week”.
“It’s not huge but if you are on a low income and already ‘topping up’ the rent allowance from your income – and our stance is that this should not be happening – well another €25 a week, it’s just not feasible.”*
Some landlords seeking rent increases are being pressured by banks to impose them.
“People are anxious, nervous, upset. They have kids. It can be hard listening to people’s stories but you have to try and detach. The good news is we can help.”
However, in many cases they are only able to put off the date of eviction.
Awareness of rights The service is increasing awareness of tenant’s rights.
Rent increases must be notified in writing and can only happen once a year. Notices to quit must be written and tenants have a right to at least 28 days’ notice and up to 112 days depending on how long they have been there. They must also be given a reason.
Rent increases and notices to quit can be appealed to the Private Residential Tenancies Board and nothing can happen until the board adjudicates.
A protocol has been established between the TPS and the Department of Social Protection where the service can seek an emergency increase in a family's rent allowance for 13 weeks. Some 114 applications have been made, of which 109 have been approved, two were withdrawn and three were refused. The largest proportion (42 per cent) received a temporary increase of between €101 and €200 per month.
During the 13-week period the family must seek cheaper accommodation. If genuinely unable to, they keep the higher rate for another 13 weeks. If they still cannot, they may keep the higher rate.
None of the 109 families receiving increased rent supplement has been reviewed yet. “The first reviews are coming up,” said Ms McLoughlin.
* This article was amended on September 11th 2014
