FAQs


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Respond! house?

To apply for a Respond! house, you must already be on your Local Authority housing list. If this applies to simply fill in the appliction form below, return it to your local office and a member of our staff will contact you shortly.
Respond House document

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Where do Respond! have housing?

Respond! have houses in 22 counties in Ireland. At present, the only counties where we are not present are Longford, Westmeath, Roscommon and Leitrim.

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What are the pre-requisites for applying for a Respond! house?

To apply for a Respond! house, an applicant must already be on their local authority housing list.

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What age do you have to be to apply for a Respond! house?

All applicants for a Respond! home must be over 18 years of age.

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How is an application assessed?

All applicants are assessed by Respond!'s assessment personnel and in consultation with and agreement with the Housing Officer and Town Clerk, (County Council has to approve tenants also) a list of perspective tenants is compiled.

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If my application is successful, will I be given a house or a flat?

The type of Respond! home you are awarded is dependent on your personal circumstances, family size, mobility etc. Each case is assessed on an individual basis by Respond! personnel, in consultation with the Housing Officer of the Local Authority in question.

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How much rent will I pay?

Rent varies between €12 and €75, depending on your income etc.

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Can I keep the house for as long as I want to?

You can remain in your Respond! home for as long as you wish, provided you don't breach any of the Letting Agreements agreed to when you initially received your new home.

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What happens to my house if I die?

This depends on your initial application and will be assessed on an individual basis by Respond! personnel. However, if you applied for your Respond! home as part of a couple, then your home will transfer to your next of kin. Each case is assessed individually.

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Can I buy a Respond! house?

Respond!’s personnel are occasionally asked why Respond! doesn’t allow the ‘option to buy’ on our social rented houses for families under the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (LSS). The short answer is that we don’t disallow it – is simply government policy which formed part of the regulations of the scheme from the beginning. Under the LSS Scheme, housing associations have no right to sell to tenants, just as much as the tenants have no right to buy. This has been the situation since the scheme was introduced in 1991 and it has been supported and implemented by successive governments represented by various parties, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Democratic Left and Labour.

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Can a Local Authority tenant transfer to a Respond! house and vice versa?

Yes, simply download an application form and send it to your local office, along with any other relevant information.

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What is the difference between being a Respond! tenant and a Local Authority tenant?

As a Respond! tenant,

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Can I transfer to a Respond! dwelling in one area to a Respond! dwelling in another area?

Yes, but a valid reason for wanting to move would have to be supplied. Simply contact your local estate officer to discuss the matter further with them.

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Does Respond! provide housing for older people?

Respond! has always been committed to the provision of housing for older people. Our aim is to contribute to improving the quality of life for older residents living on our estates. To help us achieve this we completed an internal survey of older residents in 2008. The survey highlighted gaps in service provision experienced amongst our residents. It was with the findings in mind that we completed a National Strategy for Older People which you can download at the link below.
Respond! National Strategy for Older People

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Does Respond! have a Traveller Accommodation Strategy?

Yes Respond! does have a National Traveller Accommodation and Support Policy. Launched in early 2007 Respond!, the aim of the policy is to provide a holistic approach to providing Traveller housing, encompassing all Traveller needs and issues.
Respond! has identified the following points below as the main areas of focus for the provision of housing to Travellers at this time:
  • Integrated Traveller Accommodation and Support

  • Management of Current Traveller Accommodation Schemes

  • Training and Education

  • Creating Integrated Communities

  • Care and Support

  • Building good relations

  • Creating Employment Opportunities
Respond! Traveller Accommodation and Support Policy

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