A pensioner has said he has no idea “where I’ll go” once his savings are depleted and he can no longer afford to rent his current property in Dublin. 

71 year old Denis Tyrrell retired in 2020 and received a lump sum. 

Although he receives HAP, his rent is €1,400 and the subsidy does not cover the full amount. 

It means that he “struggles on a daily basis” with his finances. 

 “The whole thing about it is that I just can’t afford it,” he explained to Lunchtime Live. 

“Had I not qualified for HAP, I would have been homeless if at this stage - that’s the reality.” 

Mr Tyrrell has been in his current property for nearly 10 years but lives in constant fear that his tenancy will be terminated. 

“The biggest worry is that the way things are going… that the landlord might decide to sell the property,” he said. 

“I don’t think I could find a property that you would get HAP with as well. 

“There’s no houses out there, there’s no places to rent and I’m lucky in that sense. 

“Every year it comes around, you’re waiting on the call to say that they’re selling. It’s just a worry.” 

Whatever happens, he does not want to leave the local area if he can help it. 

“I’ve been working for 52 years and I find myself in this situation,” he said. 

“I’ve always been part of the community with football and so on; I do volunteer work at the moment. 

“I just find it difficult; I think people are being left behind - especially the old people.” 

Mr Tyrrell added that as his retirement lump sum is “dwindling away”, he believes he will soon be unable to afford to rent his current home. 

“I’ll be okay for, maybe, another two years,” he predicted. 

“Three at the most and after that, I don’t know where I’ll go.” 

Main image: Denis. Image supplied.