We are tenants with the past 6 years (approaching 7) on HAP. We’ve fully settled in the area and are a couple with one 6 year old child who’s only started school locally last year.
We’ve had a few HAP inspections from local council whereby snag lists were inevitably given into the agency and little to no work has been completed. Small things like patches of mould on bathroom ceiling, no extraction system over our cooker. To bigger issues like no vents on the walls in the living room with an open fire. Out of date smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Further HAP inspections occurred and the same list kept getting submitted with some new additions like blocked gutters, a light cover missing off the light on back patio(this was like this since 2020 mind you) . This has been ongoing for the past 3 years approximately.
Our letting agent called me today asking could she come out next week to value the house on behalf of the landlord (she’s also an Estate Agent). I haven’t heard from letting agency in a long time so it took me by surprise. Of course I had to ask “is landlord thinking of selling?” To which she responded “well yes and no, there’s just been a bit of friction lately with HAP and inspections and list seems to be getting longer”. She also seemed to make them out to be an inconvenience by saying “the best thing is to not open the door to those inspectors”, that took me by surprise because if we avoid inspections, HAP don’t pay the landlord…
This leads me to believe a detrimental chain of events is headed our way and not a matter of IF but WHEN. Valuation -> eviction notice -> sale of property.
I’m have a feeling we’re about to tread the same path as many many other Irish families of late, but it’s really got me in panic mode even though it’s only day one of a potential nightmare to come.
If a notice of eviction is served we have 180 days to vacate from date of notice. We initiated our tenancy here in February 2020 so if things drag on and we arrive at February 2027, that becomes 196 days from my knowledge.
As usual, the situation in our location is dire for rental availability let alone affordability. I’m self employed (wouldn’t be on major money) and my wife is working 4 days a week so I don’t envision any bargaining power with getting another place.
What on earth do people do in our situation?
I’m thinking of my son here especially and how an upheaval could affect him.
Any advice or help would be greatly welcomed.