Ukranian lodger under ARP - giving lots of excuses not to leave

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Mothergoose

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There is a Ukranian lodger living with my adult children in my house under the ARP scheme. She has been living there for the last 3.5 years under ARP.

I am moving back into the house - this has been planned for a year but she is now refusing to leave. I gave her a year's notice and reminded her again two months ago that she has to leave by 1st August at latest.

I know that even without the ARP scheme she would be considered a lodger as my children were using the house as their residence during college with me paying the bills.

How do I deal with this situation? She is giving every excuse not to leave and is now not even acknowledging me when I go to the house, which is about twice per week as I am having renovations done there currently. She has offered to top up the ARP - I said this was not allowed. She then said she applied for her VISA documents two months ago but there is a backlog and they may not be delivered to the house for several months and they can only be accepted in person by her and signed for - I understand this is not true.

Any advice would be really appreciated.
 
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Am I permitted to change the locks though? Happy to leave her stuff outside or keep it for collection.
 
Thank you! I am getting anxious about it now. I have her plenty of notice from September 2025 that I would be moving back into the house at the latest Sept, 2026. Hopefully it won't come to having to change the locks, but if it does it does.
 
When you say you gave her notice, is it in writing? Regardless of whether or not that is required legally, in this circumstances it would be advisable. Even if you did this already, I suggest a very clear letter now setting out what date you require vacant possession, restate the history of when you told her already verbally or in writing. Would you consider telling her that additional renovation work in her room (which you will use) will start 1st August so you can move back in 1st Sept and any possessions remaining in the house/room on that date will be disposed of. You might consider a solicitor's letter - this might "move the tide".
 
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Mothergoose said:
Am I permitted to change the locks though? Happy to leave her stuff outside or keep it for collection.
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According to other posters you are not a landlord so those rules do not apply to you you.

What I would do is get on to Thresdhold on behalf of a 'friend' of yours who is Ukrainian and staying in a house under the ARP scheme and ask them can the owner of the house change the locks and evict your 'friend'. They will know the rules better than anyone.

So much for you housing her btw. She needs to get onto the council or move in with friends.

I do not think it is proper to leave her stuff outside. Bag it/Box it and store it for collection. I'd also drop it off to a place of her choosing (within reason) . I'd put a time frame on all those options.
 
Bronte said:
What I would do is get on to Thresdhold on behalf of a 'friend' of yours who is Ukrainian and staying in a house under the ARP scheme and ask them can the owner of the house change the locks and evict your 'friend'. They will know the rules better than anyone.
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Would emphatically not advise that. Threshold are notoriously one sided and not impartial. Like asking a mugger not to mug you ;)

Its a licence agreement and they can be asked to leave at any time. OP has given a great deal of warning and now must act and change the locks.
 
Other option is to Email the deparment of Social Welfare and ask them what you can do

ARP@Welfare.ie

I'd phone them first. To figure out the rules. 0818 70 80 90 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Also see here:

www.gov.ie

Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme: Your questions answered

The Accommodation Recognition Payment is a tax-free monthly payment of €600 per accommodation (vacant or shared) in which beneficiary/beneficiaries of temporary protection reside
www.gov.ie www.gov.ie

What the scheme is not and what it doesn’t do

  • it is not intended to cover all costs incurred by the host
  • it does not create any obligation for the temporary protection beneficiaries in the accommodation, such as payment of rent or provision of services, however, the beneficiaries may agree to contribute towards the cost of utilities
  • it does not create a landlord and tenant relationship between the accommodation host who has qualified for the financial contribution and the Ukrainians living in the accommodation
  • it does not give temporary protection beneficiaries in accommodation an automatic right to tenancy
If you're happy that you are correctly an ARP I'd be happy enough to evict her forthwith, which does not mean tomorrow, you're not a monster, so if you're happy with August than go for that. Based on her behaviour towards you I'd be very reluctant to even give her to August.
 
Mothergoose said:
She has offered to top up the ARP
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We do not recommend that hosts accept or request any payments from guests beyond the ARP payment and contributions towards costs such as utilities as this could lead to tax and legal implications. Otherwise, any financial contributions of this nature could risk being interpreted as ‘rent’ by the Residential Tenancies Board legally warranting a landlord-tenant arrangement.

All the above is from me googling for 10 min, best of luck.
 
Oddly, the gov.ie page all about the ARP scheme does not address termination (quick glance through)
www.gov.ie

Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme: Your questions answered

The Accommodation Recognition Payment is a tax-free monthly payment of €600 per accommodation (vacant or shared) in which beneficiary/beneficiaries of temporary protection reside
www.gov.ie www.gov.ie


ChatGPT when I described your case:

The practical safest route is usually:
  1. Give written notice ending the hosting arrangement.
  2. Give a reasonable period to leave (often at least a couple of weeks unless there are serious behavioural issues).
  3. State clearly that the ARP hosting arrangement is terminated.
  4. Notify the Department of Social Protection/ARP section once they leave.
The ARP guidance itself also recommends using a temporary accommodation licence agreement with terms about notice periods and ending the arrangement.

If the person refuses to leave after notice:
  • before changing locks, I would still strongly recommend at least a short consultation with an Irish solicitor because the precise facts matter.
 
Bronte said:
Based on her behaviour towards you I'd be very reluctant to even give her to August.
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Agree. In the circumstances given you want to move in on Sept 1, but the risk of her being disrup[tive, I'd considering bringing the notice date back to 30th June.
 
Can I ask the op what you did for a finish? I'm in a similar situation but the ARP welfare email is very vague - just confirms it's not the same as a typical landlord tenant relationship. No actual advice about what to do practically.
 
Id physically remove her and hopefully she will call the cops in the process and you can tell them she is tresspassing and refusing to leave yoyr property.
 
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