General Information for Leitrim County Council Tenants
· Offer of Local Authority Housing
· Pre-Tenancy Training
· Maintenance/Repairs
· Alterations to Council Houses
· Transfer to alternative Accommodation
· Surrendering Tenancy
· Rents and Rent Assessment
· How Is Rent Calculated?
· What if a tenant’s circumstances change?
· What If the tenant does not notify the Council when circumstances change?
Offer of Local Authority Housing
The purpose of Leitrim County Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme is to provide a means of determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households which are included on Leitrim County Council’s Housing Waiting List. Where an Offer of Accommodation is being made in accordance with the Household will be notified in writing of this Offer. Upon acceptance of this Offer of Accommodation, arrangements are then made for the Household to undergo Pre-Tenancy training and for the formal allocation of the dwelling to the household.
Pre-Tenancy Training
Prior to receiving the keys to their new house, the tenant is required to undertake
pre-tenancy training. This is compulsory for all new tenants and for existing tenants transferring from one local authority property to another. This course provides tenants with relevant information with regard to their Tenancy. At this pre-tenancy training the following documents will need to be signed by the tenant:
· Tenancy Agreement
The conditions of tenancy are set out in detail in the tenancy agreement, which is a legal contract between the tenant and Leitrim County Council. The tenancy agreement sets out the tenant’s obligations and responsibilities with respect to their tenancy with Leitrim County Council. When the tenant signs this agreement they are agreeing to all the conditions set out in the agreement. Each tenant receives a copy of their tenancy agreement within a week of having signed it and this should be kept safely for reference purposes.
· Anti Social Behaviour Strategy Document
This document provides a definition of Anti Social Behaviour and also sets out the local authority’s policy on preventing and dealing with instances of anti social behaviour. Each tenant must sign this document.
· Notification to Electricity Supplier/Irish Water
Each tenant must sign a form in respect of each of the above giving their consent for the Housing Authority to notify the Electricity Supplier/Irish Water with the details of the new tenant , metre readings etc. The Tenant is then responsible for the payment of Electricity Charges and charges due to Irish Water from the date of their appointment as Tenants of the Property.
· Standing Order/Household Budget etc
Tenant must indicate with what method they intend paying their rent and must complete the appropriate documentation
· Registration with a Waste Contractor
Each tenant is advised of their obligation to register with an authorised Waste Contractor to dispose of their waste
· Tenant Handbook
The handbook is an important document giving factual information about various matters relating to tenancy. It provides information on a wide range of issues such as rent payments, repairs and maintenance, neighbourhood relations, community involvement and safety in your home.
Maintenance/Repairs
In order to maintain the dwelling in good condition, repairs and maintenance are necessary. The tenant shares responsibility for these repairs and maintenance with the Council, as set out in the terms of the tenancy agreement.
The Local Authority will only carry out structural repairs to the dwelling. The tenant is responsible for arranging and paying for all other repairs. Each tenant, on the signing of his/her tenancy agreement, assumes responsibility for repairs of a non structural nature. The Tenant Handbook gives further details on what the tenant is responsible for and what the local authority is responsible for.
Tenant Handbook
Alterations to Council Houses
The tenant must obtain the Council’s written agreement before starting any improvements, alterations or additions to the dwelling.
Application form for permission to carry out alterations to LA dwelling
Transfer to alternative Accommodation
Tenants of the housing authority, including tenants of dwellings provided under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative (SHLI), Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), or dwellings provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) may apply for consideration for a transfer to other dwellings, under the following circumstances -
· Down-sizing: – tenants who wish to transfer to a smaller unit of housing authority accommodation.
· Exceptional medical/disability or compassionate grounds: where the tenant has a serious disability /medical condition or illness for which the allocation of a transfer to an alternative housing authority dwelling would improve the tenant’s medical condition. The housing authority shall obtain and have regard to a report from an Occupational Therapist/Medical Practioner in respect of any specific accommodation requirements.
· Overcrowding: where the existing accommodation is no longer suitable on the grounds of over-crowding due to an increase in the family composition since the original date of allocation of the property.
The housing authority will not consider transferring a tenant because of unsatisfactory relations with a neighbouring tenant or because of dissatisfaction in general with the estate or the neighbourhood.
Notwithstanding the above, tenants seeking a transfer must fulfil the following requirements to the satisfaction of the housing authority –
The following conditions also apply to the approval of a transfer request:
- Tenants must have a clear rent account with no arrears relating to their existing tenancy
- The tenants must have complied with all the conditions of their letting agreement
- The tenants must not have engaged in anti-social behaviour for the previous two years
- The tenants must have resided in their current accommodation for the previous two years
- Subject to an inspection of the existing accommodation the property must be in a satisfactory condition
- The date of application for a transfer will only be set after all the conditions for a transfer have been met in the opinion of the housing authority.
Allocation Scheme
Surrendering Tenancy
The following procedures apply to a tenant wishing to terminate their tenancy:
1. Inform the Housing Department that it is intended to terminate tenancy (must give at least four week’s notice) and complete a Surrender of Tenancy Form.
2. Arrange for a Pre-Termination Visit/Inspection of your property by the Council.
3. Make arrangements to pay off any outstanding arrears.
4. Remove all furniture, personal belongings and waster from the property. Tenant may be charged for the cost of clearing any furniture or waste left behind. Return Keys.
5. Check Repairs – the property will be assessed for repairs. If any repairs are needed as a result of wilful damage or alterations made without permission, the tenant may be charged for the cost of these repairs.
Rents and Rent Assessment
Every tenant of a County Council house (Council owned, RAS or Leased houses) is obliged to pay a rent to the County Council. The Housing Section will assess tenants rent and for queries in relation to rent account, methods of payment and problems with arrears, the tenant will be referred to the Revenue Collection Department.
How Is Rent Calculated?
Rent is calculated in accordance with the Council’s Differential Rent Scheme. It is calculated as a proportion of total household income in a manner which ensures that the rent amount charged is reasonable and does not lead to undue financial difficulties.
Differential Rent scheme
Differential Rent Scheme Form
Rent will be reviewed from time to time through the completion of rent assessment forms issued to tenants. This process is compulsory, with non-completion resulting in a penalty rent being applied to the tenants account. It is important that these forms are completed correctly each year when requested by the Council and any other time there is a change of income or family composition in order to ensure that any such changes are reflected in the tenants rent.
A new Rent Scheme may be introduced by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government from time to time. All tenants will be notified of the introduction of any new Rent Scheme and details therein.
What if a tenant’s circumstances change?
The tenant must keep the Council informed about changes in family circumstances. The local authority must be informed when:
· A person in a tenant’s household gets a job
· A person in a tenant’s household becomes unemployed
· A person in a tenant’s household starts claiming a social welfare payment
· An additional person joins the household
· There is a birth in the household
· There is a death in the household
· A person in your household leaves home
· A person in your household reaches 18 years of age and is in receipt of an income in their own right
What If the tenant does not notify the Council when circumstances change?
When changes in a tenant’s circumstances come to light, rent will be reassessed and the rent account will be backdated to the date of the change. This could result in a serious arrears situation. In addition, by failing to notify the Council of a change in circumstances and failing to complete new rent assessment forms, a tenant is breaching their tenancy agreement.
Further Details are available from:-
The Housing Department,
Leitrim County Council,
Aras An Chontae,
Carrick on Shannon,
Co. Leitrim.
Telephone No. 071 9650426
E-Mail: housing@leitrimcoco.ie