Local authority tenants and rent arrears

Introduction

If you are renting from a local authority or a housing association, the rent is based on your ability to pay. If your income is reduced you should contact the landlord immediately to look for an adjustment in your rent.

If you find that you are falling behind with the rent, 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.

Read more in our document on notice and eviction.

Where to apply

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

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre for face-to face information and advice, phone the Citizens Information Phone Service on Lo-call 1890 777 121, Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm, or log on to the Citizens Information website.

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 a nationwide network of offices. You can read more about the MABS service here.

Threshold provides specialist advice, information and support on housing rights. Contact Threshold 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