Finding a New Home
The first challenge you will face is to find a new home. This may be in public (social) housing or in private, rented housing. IPAS operates a dedicated transition team, which works with various agencies on moving residents to independent housing.
Applying for Social Housing Assistance
Social Housing Support
It is open to anyone to apply for social housing support. In order to qualify the household must be deemed to be eligible for and in need for support before being placed on a social housing waiting list. You will only be considered for social housing if your household income is less than the threshold that applies in the local authority’s area. You must fill out an application form for local authority housing. Your housing support worker, local authority or local Citizens Information Centre can help you with this. Detailed information is available at the Housing Agency.
An Easy-to-Read Guide to the completion of the application form is available in 26 languages at Citizens Information.
If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it qualifies for the suite of social housing supports, including Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The 8 household is placed on the housing list to be considered for the allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the authority’s allocation scheme. Housing associations and housing co-operatives also have rules about who may be eligible for their housing.
Private rented housing
If you do not qualify for social housing, you should look at renting in the private sector. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) oversees the private rental sector in Ireland. Its website, RTB.ie, explains the rights and responsibilities of tenants (you) and landlords. The website also has a Good Landlord Tenant Guide which you can download.
You can also get information and advice from Threshold, the national housing charity. See Threshold.ie.
More information is available in this detailed guidebook on independent living:
