diff --git a/manifests/virtual/localuser.pp b/manifests/virtual/localuser.pp
index 4822d07..23ef13f 100644
--- a/manifests/virtual/localuser.pp
+++ b/manifests/virtual/localuser.pp
@@ -33,11 +33,30 @@ define user::virtual::localuser(
     require    => Group[$title],
   }
 
+  # ensure that home exists with the right permissions
+  file { $home:
+    ensure  => directory,
+    owner   => $title,
+    group   => $title,
+    mode    => '0755',
+    require => [ User[$title], Group[$title] ],
+  }
+
+  # Ensure the .ssh directory exists with the right permissions
+  file { "${home}/.ssh":
+    ensure  => directory,
+    owner   => $title,
+    group   => $title,
+    mode    => '0700',
+    require => File[$home],
+  }
+
   ssh_authorized_key { $key_id:
     ensure  => present,
     key     => $sshkeys,
     user    => $title,
     type    => 'ssh-rsa',
+    require => File[ "${home}/.ssh" ],
   }
 
   if ( $old_keys != [] ) {