People worry about your ability to pay, thats why employment status is discussed. Offer 3 months rent up front. You havent said what your field is for employment so I dont know how likely you are to get employment quickly.
People also worry about wear and tear on the home, the last thing they want is to come home themselves each day and find you laying about.
If you lie and say you are employed, while I am not suggesting that is a good idea, you can a) give a friends details and ask them to provide a reference and b) get up and leave the house each day to cover your tracks. Go to the library etc. If you are based in Dublin, Cineworld offer unlimited movies for €22 per month lots of free or cheap activities you can do. Or tell them you are working from home and spend the day on your laptop looking at the jobs boards and sending off applications. Alternatively they will probably be out at work themselves so how will they know if you are there or not?
You seem like a decent person so I dont think lying will sit easy with you, but it sounds like you need out of your current situation pronto. You said one person seemed keen to rent you a room today, did you speak to them about your current work situation, what was their reaction?
On the other hand, tell your current landlady that if she so much as looks at you sideways you will report her for social welfare fraud and she will lose everything! That should soften her cough for her. Won't make for a very pleasant home life though. Remember you are in control, she has far more to lose than you do. Get a small unit and move any valuables into storage ASAP if you are worried about what she might do.
Still think you should report her when you are out of the situation. People like her make my blood boil!!
