I have lost my job and am applying for rent allowance. The landlord will accept it but the rent is above the limit set by social welfare. The agent is asking the landlord to lower the rent so I can avail of the rent allowance but I don't think he will do that. I have paid up to date but it was difficult and I won't be able to keep that up.
I have told the agent that if he won't lower it I will not be able to afford the rent so will have to move, even though I would like to stay. She said that because I signed a lease for 12 months I am liable for the remaining 8 months. They will follow me for it. But I don't have this money either. Also I'm very worried as in my lease, it states that any cost incurred in any legal proceedings would be my expense.
I have been speaking to Citizens Advice and Threshold and they advised me to ask to reassign or sublet. The problem is in the lease it also states that I cannot assign or sublet so I think I may have signed away my option to do this also, even though legally I am allowed to do this. Can this clause in the lease prevent me from taking this action?
Also, on the Citizens Advice website it says you can terminate a fixed lease for "good reason", but doesn't give any indication of what "good reason" is. Would losing your job and not being able to afford the rent be good enough reason?
Please can anyone offer any advice on this matter as I feel I'm quickly running out of options!
I have told the agent that if he won't lower it I will not be able to afford the rent so will have to move, even though I would like to stay. She said that because I signed a lease for 12 months I am liable for the remaining 8 months. They will follow me for it. But I don't have this money either. Also I'm very worried as in my lease, it states that any cost incurred in any legal proceedings would be my expense.
I have been speaking to Citizens Advice and Threshold and they advised me to ask to reassign or sublet. The problem is in the lease it also states that I cannot assign or sublet so I think I may have signed away my option to do this also, even though legally I am allowed to do this. Can this clause in the lease prevent me from taking this action?
Also, on the Citizens Advice website it says you can terminate a fixed lease for "good reason", but doesn't give any indication of what "good reason" is. Would losing your job and not being able to afford the rent be good enough reason?
Please can anyone offer any advice on this matter as I feel I'm quickly running out of options!