‘On the brink’ - single mum facing eviction

NOTICE Told to be out of rented home by June

Single mother Lisa is in her twenties and works in the early education sector. She and her five-year old have to be out of the house they are renting by August and, as of yet, have nowhere to go.

Lisa claims that, despite doing work on the house she has been renting for the last few years and paying for it out of her own pocket, she is still facing eviction later this year.

“My work hours can be unpredictable, but I’m never more than 20 hours a week, so it can be hard to save. I’m out of work for the minute due to an injury,” she says.

“I’m facing eviction. I have to be out of the house in August if not before as my landlord is applying pressure. I will have been there three years by the time my eviction date comes around.

“He said there was no chance of him selling when I moved in. The house was a disgrace when we moved. I redecorated it, painted it, put in new floors, fixed couches, beds, etc. I got it looking amazing. I had to do this to get it up to a living standard.”

Despite doing this Lisa claims the landlord will not compensate her for the work done.

“Our deposit was €500. He asked me to do the renovations to get the house to a living standard instead of paying the deposit. I reckon I did at least €12,000-€13,000 worth of work to the house and now I’m getting kicked out. I feel so used.”

Lisa was hoping to put down a deposit on a house alongside her former partner, however when their relationship ended this was no longer possible. She claims to have been a victim of domestic abuse.

“I had to call the Gardaí on him. Our initial arrangement was to buy the house. When the relationship broke down, he took every penny that we had saved in a joint account which amounted to €10,000. Before I could check the account, it was just swiped. I got left in limbo and was still renting the house. I felt lost and panicked.”

With her eviction date looming, Lisa says that there are few opportunities to find new places to live.

“Private accommodation can be as much as €1,400 if there even is any at all. I can’t afford it. When the day of my eviction comes, I have nowhere to go. I don’t know what to do.”

She has been in regular contact with Cavan County Council, but so far this has proved fruitless.

“Pauline Tully [TD] is fighting hard to get me accommodation. I’ve been on the housing list for six years but I got a letter from the council saying they are not in a position to help me at the minute. They sent me new forms for HAP [Housing Assistance Payment] if any private accommodation comes up.”

Lisa finds some landlords aren’t willing to accept tenants on HAP, which leaves her with few options.

“My current house is under HAP. I rang auctioneers and they ask am I working? And, as soon as they find out I am on HAP, they don’t ring back. I looked online for houses and there is nothing affordable or in my area.”

As well as facing homelessness, Lisa says her personal life has been causing her a lot of stress.

“I’ve been through a lot as well as being in an abusive relationship, I lost a child last summer. Mentally I’m on the brink. I’m out of work due to my injury but, even if I was working, I couldn’t afford a place. I’m in my 20s but I feel like my life finished before it started,” says a dejected Lisa.

She feels let down by the recent government vote to end the eviction ban

“I thought my local representatives were there to speak on my behalf and defend my interests and the interests of ordinary working people who have been struggling to make ends meet in recent years. They only push us further and further into trouble. I don’t know who they think they are standing up for here, but it isn’t us. These measures will only protect landlords and greed.”