A couple who are facing eviction at the end of this month have put up fliers around Dublin city centre looking for a place to rent.
Adrian Fernandez-Fernandez (26) and Alejandra Fernandez-Fuensalida (23) both from Spain have been unable to find a place to rent for the last six weeks.
The couple have been living in Ireland since September and have a room in a shared house in Park West. They have to find alternative accommodation by March 1st.
The fliers they have placed on poles and at Luas stops state they are willing to pay €1,000 a month for a room and €3,500 for a house with three bedrooms that they could share with friends in a similar situation to themselves.
So far they have been unsuccessful in finding a place to live though they are willing to pay up to €1,200 a month. The average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Dublin is €1,700 a month.
Mr Fernandez-Fernandez works in a warehouse but is hoping to get a job in economics which he studied at university. Ms Fernandez-Fuensalida is a support worker who will shortly be taking up a role in a homeless charity in Dublin.
They describe themselves as “respectful, easy going and good vibe people”.
The couple say they are shocked at the price of rent in Dublin though wages are better than they are in Spain.
Many people come from Spain to Ireland because the opportunities for employment are better, but the cost of living is much higher too.
“It is so expensive. The flats are not only expensive, they are really hard to get. If you go to Daft.ie it is really hard even to get an answer from someone,” Mr Fernandez-Fernandez said.
Response
So far they have only had one response and it is quite far out near Bray. Ms Fernandez-Fuensalida said her new job working in a homeless charity means she needs to be closer to the city centre.
The couple say they may have to go to a hostel if they cannot find a place in the next three weeks though hostels may be “super expensive” in the run up to St Patrick’s Day, she suggests.
She addedmany of her friends who have come from abroad to live in Dublin are struggling to find accommodation too. As a result there are no friends they can stay with.
"When you enter the Facebook pages you find other people like us who are desperate for a place to live," she said.
