Rent allowance - Should I let them pay with it?

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Cityliving

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HELP!

I am trying to rent an apt and someone has asked do I accept rent allowance cheques? What are they? Is it like social welfare? Is in a bad sign or good sign and should I just avoid them? I see lots of people with "good" apts say rent allowance not allowed.

I am not trying to judge or anything but I am a novice landlord and need to have things as level as possible,

They are onto me by text as I write this and I want to give some form of informed reply!
 
Re: RENT allowance - Should I let them pay with it?? (Quick reply if possible)

Rent allowance is paid one month in arrears so you do need to make sure you are getting your deposit and month in advance to cover you. I'm sure most ppl paying with rent allowance cheques are on the level but do use common sense and get references etc.
 
Re: RENT allowance - Should I let them pay with it?? (Quick reply if possible)

Who offers it to them. I read that its the government regarding a 1982 act? Why cant they just put it into their account themselves and give me the cash as normal?
 
Re: RENT allowance - Should I let them pay with it?? (Quick reply if possible)

Rent allowance is paid by local health boards. In some cases it can be paid directly to the Landlord. Alternatively it can be paid to the person renting the property. I'm not entirely sure of the legalities.
[broken link removed]
Please check the above link which might be more helpfull
 
Very helpful thank you I see what it is now essentially a help for people with difficult circumstances
 
Just because tenants are on rent allowance doesn't make them bad tenants. See what they are like in person / get references. We've been very happy with a number of our tenants who were on rent allowance.
 
Superman said:
Just because tenants are on rent allowance doesn't make them bad tenants. See what they are like in person / get references. We've been very happy with a number of our tenants who were on rent allowance.
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agreed , we have rent allowance and our landlord is happy as chips mainly because we respect his property maintain it and fix simple things ourselves without hassling him and are respectful of our neighbours

our "difficult" circumstance is that we cant afford to buy a house in the current crazy property market , of course i'm sure there's bad people on the allowance out there but just because people are being "helped out" doesnt mean they're gonna wreck the place on you

BTW you can actually be brought to court for refusing someone with rent allowance due to eqaulity laws on family circumstance so if you decide against accepting rent allowance best to say the property has been taken or something

IMHO alot of landlords wont accept rent allowance because they're not PRTB registered or paying VAT on their rent income which IMO is a case of pot calling kettle black in the way they "look down" on people with RA when they're screwing the VAT man themselves

sorry rant over , best of luck either way to the OP
 
I have had two RA tenants,one messed me around,and the other is a model tenant.
If you think they are decent ppl,then go for it,I would recommend you insist that the money is paid by by the local authority into your account.
 
Thatnks everyone for your advice, our family were on Social welfare not so many years ago so I`m certainly not trying to judge anyone it was just that I was worried it may be a more serious issue than I had thought.
 
madisona said:
Landlords who accept RA are not required to register with the PRTB
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I can't find anything to this effect on the PRTB website. This FAQ doesn't seem to mention the exemption of RA tenancies/properties:
2. What dwellings are exempt from the tenancy registration system?

A number of dwellings are exempt from registration, these include:

> Business premises, even where partly residential

> A dwelling to which Part II of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982 applies (i.e. formerly rent controlled dwelling occupied by the “original tenant” or his/her spouse) or to which Part II of the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980 applies (i.e. long occupation equity lease tenancies)

> A dwelling let by a local authority or voluntary housing body

> A dwelling occupied under a shared ownership lease

> A holiday let

> A dwelling in which the landlord is also resident

> A dwelling in which the spouse, parent or child of the landlord is resident and there is no written lease or tenancy agreement

> A dwelling that is occupied rent free
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Perhaps you could point to authoritative information on this point?
 
ClubMan said:
I can't find anything to this effect on the PRTB website. This FAQ doesn't seem to mention the exemption of RA tenancies/properties:
Perhaps you could point to authoritative information on this point?
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I believe the point is the other way round, that in order to accept RA cheques you don't need to provide the Health borad or your tenant with your PRTB registration number. Unlike, say, mortgage interest relief where you do need to provide it to the mortgage provider.

This is indeed a big loophole that should, and probably will, be closed off.

Just to clarify, ALL landlords ARE required to register with the PRTB. Anyone entering into a tenancy with a RA tenant under the illusion that they've exempted themselves from various tax and legal obligations will more than likely find themselves trapped sometime in the future once this loophole is closed off.
 
I have had RA tenants for a number of years and never had any problems, you can have rent paid direct to your bank and collect their portion of rent yourself. The only draw back is rent is paid in arrears so you will have to try and get deposit and 1 months rent in advance from tenants. I checked with PRTB and they told me property has to be registered even if tenants are on rent allowance.
 
Madisona, Can you please explain this further?
''Rule of thumb :if you have a good quality place, rent privately. If your place is diliapadated and run down take the govt money.''

Thank you.
 
From personal experience I would disagree with Madisona's rule of thumb:

Firstly, RA tenants tend to be able to stay a long time - so if the accommodation is in good condition, they'll stay for years and spare you the hassle of replacing the tenant with all that entails (painting, and my pet hate - cleaning grout in showers etc. ).

Secondly, since a number of landlords do not accept RA tenants, it is actually surprisingly easy to get good quality RA tenants.

Thirdly RA tenants tend to be slightly older - 30's and 40's, and a far better bet than younger (well young Irish in any case) tenants - who tend to have parties, and not know what a vacuum cleaner is.
 
OK - I get your gist now but thought that you were saying that RA landlords were exempt from PRTB registration.
 
miju said:
agreed , we have rent allowance and our landlord is happy as chips mainly because we respect his property maintain it and fix simple things ourselves without hassling him and are respectful of our neighbors

our "difficult" circumstance is that we cant afford to buy a house in the current crazy property market , of course I'm sure there's bad people on the allowance out there but just because people are being "helped out" doesn't mean they're gonna wreck the place on you

BTW you can actually be brought to court for refusing someone with rent allowance due to eqaulity laws on family circumstance so if you decide against accepting rent allowance best to say the property has been taken or something

.

IMHO alot of landlords wont accept rent allowance because they're not PRTB registered or paying VAT on their rent income which IMO is a case of pot calling kettle black in the way they "look down" on people with RA when they're screwing the VAT man themselves

sorry rant over , best of luck either way to the OP
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Miju: Your landlord is very lucky with you.
Why are you on rent allowance? Do you work?
Also I think its complete bull ref court proceeding and rent allowance tenants. Yes their are some good rent allowance tenants but one should always get references and get rent and deposit in advance because if they do a runner and owe money their is nothing the Social will or can do to them.Its the LL decision who he rent to. I also dont agree with your statement that if landlords dont accept R/A the are not paying tax. Oh come on get real, how difficult would it be for revenue to scroll though the papers and take note of ads with no R/A accepted. Big chip on your shoulder dude. Could someone in the legal profession answer the questing about court proceedings please.
 
I've had the same RA tenants for over 2 years now in a brand new apartment. I dont understand this thing about if you have a nice apt don't rent to RA tenants. You should choose your tenants on the basis of refs and your own impression of them from meeting them. My tenants are a lovely family and they are on RA because they are still waiting on the appropriate documentation to allow them to get legal full-time employment here. I've had no problems with them - they lodge the rent to my bank account every month (the welfare cheque plus a small top-up from their own pockets) and they have been very understanding when we had some major snags about a year into their tenancy where they were seriously discommoded for about 2 weeks as a result of a flood (casued by shoddy Menolly Homes plumbing).

My personal feeling is that this family really appreciates the roof over their heads - it must be hard for them searching on Daft to see so many ads with 'RA not accepted'. I think a lot of novice landlords just do this based on bad advice or misinformation.
 
Does anybody know what costs are involved to register an investment property with the PRTB. I have an apartment which I let out almost a year ago. Stamp duty is paid but I am yet to make a tax return in relation to the property (I understand I can wait untill the next tax year?). The current tenant has never asked for my PPS number to claim rent relief. Are there penalties for not being registered? Can I simply register now? I'm new to this and only recently heard about the PRTB.
 
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