Accommodation
Information on renting, buying, flatmates, homelessness and more.
This section covers issues such as moving out of home, renting a new place, finding flatmates and buying your first home, as well as providing information and contact details of support organisations in relation to homelessness and the legal problems you might have when sorting accommodation.
Leaving home
If you still live at home you might be delighted to have a warm dinner cooked for you and your sweaty socks washed regularly. On the other hand, you might be desperate to move out, have some independence or get some breathing space from your family.
If you're happy at home then great! Don't feel you have to move out just because your friends have done so. Wait until you're ready and enjoy the time with family, without the potential worry of crazy flatmates and cranky landlords!
If you are considering leaving home because of family problems or other worries, here are a few things you should think about:
- Is leaving home your only option?
- Is there anywhere that you can get help to sort out the problems that are making you unhappy? Running away from your problems often doesn't solve them.
- Are there any other family members (older brother or sister, aunt, uncle or grandparent) that you could turn to for help?
- Have you thought through what you want for your long term future?
- Important: You can leave home at 16 with your parent's consent or at 18 without their consent.
Leaving home is your choice, but make sure you've thought it out properly. If you've got a problem, talk it through with a support organisation (see below). Most importantly, don't resort to living on the streets.
- If you intend to move out, don't do it in a temper or without planning where you'll go and who you'll live with.
- If you're in a situation where violence or abuse are involved, then it's important that you get help and a safe place to stay as soon as possible. Accept support from other family members or friends (who might be able to give you somewhere to stay) and talk to the Samaritans for help and advice.
When leaving home:
- Moving into a room, flat or house can be expensive because there are so many things you might need to buy. The landlord should give you a list of exactly what's in the house, make sure to ask for this when you view the accommodation.
- It's a good idea to move into somewhere that's already furnished, has a washing machine, oven and decent bed and mattress. Other perks to look out for are a TV and microwave.
- Bring as much with you from home as possible! That includes pillows, a duvet, pillow and duvet covers, some spare blankets, towels, books, CD player, music, kitchen stuff (anything your parents let you take!), a lamp, coat hangers, photos or pictures and anything that will make your new place seem more like a home.
- If you're at college or university and can afford a computer, then get one. It will save you loads of time queuing for the shared computers.
Find more information and support:
Threshold
Web: www.threshold.ie
Email: advice@threshold.ie Tel: 01 6707000
Threshold gives free and confidential information and advice on housing, primarily private rented housing.
Focus Ireland
Web: www.focusireland.ie Email: info@focusireland.ie
Focus Ireland’s Advice and Information service: 01-6712555
The mission of Focus Ireland is to advance the right of homeless people to live in a place they can call home, through the provision of quality services, research and advocacy.
Daft.ie
Web: www.daft.ie Email: info@daft.ie
Tel: Ireland: 1580 880 880 Northern Ireland: 0906 906 2136 Website for finding rented accommodation and for buying houses.
