And your saying it should be the other way round
I offered a person a job last week, the one of the issues they had was, crikey LS, If you pay me more this will affect my Hap.... I need to weight this up..
Are you suggesting that landlords should be motivated by altruism?
Oh, we had a fight, I can't live at home anymore....
The institutional landlords have the financial resources to take on the Govt through the courts. The individual landlord does not.
There are strict standards controlling what constitutes "reasonable accommodation" and if people are renting it then is is affordable. I presume you mean something else when you say affordable. If the State wants to lower rents then they need to sort out the construction sector and increase supply. My suggestion for a long time has been to purchase factory built Hoff House type dwellings (something like these) from US and European suppliers. They could negotiate very competitive prices due to the volumes involved. It would solve the labour shortage issue. The main roadblock is the unwillingness of the Department of the Environment to write specifications which would allow such dwellings to pass regulations as the current ones are written for our current Victorian method of house construction.The first prerequiste of any landlord should be to provide affordable and reasonable accommodation (all mod cons). If the landlord cannot provide this, then do not enter the market, or if already in the market, leave the market.
My suggestion for a long time has been to purchase factory built Hoff House type dwellings (something like these) from US and European suppliers. They could negotiate very competitive prices due to the volumes involved.
The main roadblock is the unwillingness of the Department of the Environment to write specifications which would allow such dwellings to pass regulations as the current ones are written for our current Victorian method of house construction.
Purple, you've hit the nail on the head. Take the example of a young couple I know quite well. She comes from a family with a very strong work ethos, he doesn't. They decided to have three children while he worked part-time as a musician and she had been out of work for years. She got very sick and won't be able to work again, he gave up work to take care of her and realistically due to covid he probably won't find work again any time soon. They've been in receipt of HAP in private rented accomodation, on the housing list and just got a lovely house. They were very specific in their demands about colour schemes, kitchen design, bathroom units etc - I had no idea people getting a free house could be so specific in their requirements. If they weren't getting such substantial state support now between housing, various allowances and medical cards they would be entirely dependant on family or destitute so they certainly are 'the deserving poor.' But there's no getting away from the fact that they decided to have children without being able to afford them and just trusted that the state would provide in the end and it did. The ethos of welfare dependency sets in and most likely passes on to the next generation....Maybe I'm cynical but as long as they are giving out virtually free houses there will be a waiting list for those houses.
if people are renting it then is is affordable
It's the Department. There have been specific offers made by Irish Expats who have offered, and are in a position to provide thousands of houses at cost.Sounds like a good idea. Cheap and quick to build, environmentally friendly. I would be hesitant however to designate them as buy-to-let properties into the private market. Unless conditions surrounding maximum rents were attached.
Is it the Department, or is it political interference? Given the Green Party hold this portfolio, on the face of it is odd that such regulations are not in train?
I agree but I don't see how it is incumbent on the Landlord in any way to shoulder that social responsibility. The State, through institutional incompetence and the influence of a highly effective construction sector lobby, have utterly failed to shoulder their responsibilities and they have then punished those who end up providing housing.Well, this is the bone of contention. Just because I can afford €300 out of my €600 wage on rent, in theory this is 'affordable'. In practice, it is very unaffordable. And because it is housing, and not say, a car, then I am kind of forced to pay it or become homeless in the absence of adequate and reasonable alternative.
WolfeTone, try being a private landlord and then come back and talk to us.
Take the example of a young couple I know quite well. She comes from a family with a very strong work ethos, he doesn't. They decided to have three children while he worked part-time as a musician and she had been out of work for years.
But that is the point. Individual landlords do not have the financial resources to take the State to court. The institutional landlords do which is why they are receiving the favourable treatment from the State.This is a good thing that Govt can be tackled through the courts. It offers more of a level playing field. If either party is feeling aggrieved they can take the other party to task. In the end, hopefully, you end up with an acceptable equilibrium of rights and obligations for both landlord and tenant.
If an individual cannot tackle the government in the courts then they perhaps should be minded not to become a landlord.
I don't see how it is incumbent on the Landlord in any way to shoulder that social responsibility. The State, through institutional incompetence and the influence of a highly effective construction sector lobby, have utterly failed to shoulder their responsibilities
Herein lies the crux of the issues we have. While something is not affordable to you does not mean it is not affordable to someone else. There are always alternatives be it move to a lower cost area, earn more money or reevaluate your spending priorities.Well, this is the bone of contention. Just because I can afford €300 out of my €600 wage on rent, in theory this is 'affordable'. In practice, it is very unaffordable. And because it is housing, and not say, a car, then I am kind of forced to pay it or become homeless in the absence of adequate and reasonable alternative.
What happened? Did they turn down the job offer? Did you not offer less to try and persuade them otherwise?
Not sure what you mean wolfetone? If you mean that's an invented story to support a particular agenda, it's not.I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
There are always alternatives be it move to a lower cost area, earn more money or reevaluate your spending priorities.
This is something we all have to do on a daily basis. Why is it somebody else's responsibility to solve what a person can or can't afford to pay in rent?
We all love to look to the Nordic Countries as embracing best in practice in all sorts of areas. In Sweden 45% of homes are factory built with the modules assembled onsite.Is it the Department, or is it political interference? Given the Green Party hold this portfolio, on the face of it is odd that such regulations are not in train?
We all love to look to the Nordic Countries as embracing best in practice in all sorts of areas. In Sweden 45% of homes are factory built with the modules assembled onsite.
And the realisation that the Construction Industry will fight tooth and nail to stop that level of disruption within their sector... and the realisation that the Construction Industry are some of the biggest advertisers in our national newspapers.Sounds great. Just need the political backbone to get it done now.
No. Im suggesting that being a landlord requires huge consideration before becoming one.
I do not think that is one of the 'reasonable' factors set out above.
others were forced into the business through circumstance.
The only winners from the continued exodus of small time landlords from the business is the big corporates who will be far more effective at sweating their assets and protecting their interests.
You may not, but that's all it takes.
Corporate landlords should have protections insofar as rent payment and protection of property etc.
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