Tenants
living in Riverwood Hall apartments in Castleknock, close to the home of
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, say they are “shocked”, with some fearing homelessness
due to the lack of affordable accommodation available in Dublin.
They
had been paying €1,100 rent per month for a two-bed apartment and are now facing
a likely substantial hike to find similar accommodation.
Young
families and couples living in nine properties received letters in the post
last week notifying them of the landlord’s intention to sell the properties.
Residents
living in an apartment block in Dublin West have been issued with notices to
quit from a receiver just weeks after Christmas.
Tenants
were given the option of buying the properties for €250,000 each but only have
a week to inform the landlord if they are making an offer.
Emma
Byrne and her partner Alan Kiely have been renting in Riverwood for three years
and described the timing as “ridiculous”.
“We’ve
been looking around since we found out and the cheapest quote we’re getting is
€1,700 and €1,800, which is a big jump,” Ms Byrne said.
“If
we had have known this was coming around the corner after Christmas we wouldn’t
have spent so much and now we’re looking at an increase in rent and the stress
of finding somewhere else,” she added.
Another
resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “Riverwood feels like home to
us and we had already started saving to buy around here.
“We
were paying €1100 per month and that was helping us save as it was really cheap
rent.
“Our
neighbour just had a new baby and done the place up late last year after asking
the landlord. They never said anything about selling up. They put in new
carpets, got cleaners in, threw out mountains of stuff. Sick really.”
One
tenant also slammed how this is happening "literally under the Taoiseach's
nose".
"We
live directly across from Leo Varadkar and are in the middle of a housing
crisis that is showing no sign of improving, so how are we meant to find
somewhere or afford to buy?" they asked.
Tenants
were given between nine and 12 weeks to hand over vacant possession of the
properties.
Fianna
Fáil TD for Dublin West, Jack Chambers, said this incident is
"concerning" for all living in Riverwood Hall.
"One
of the properties is vacant which brings the number to 9 even though 10 appear
to be in the process of a future sale. It sets a worrying precedent for many
families living in blocks of apartments owned by a single owner.
"The
move goes against the spirit of the legislation.
"It
means these renters, many of whom are families who signed leases in good faith,
will struggle to find suitable alternative accommodation because of the huge
housing shortage in Dublin West, could now face homelessness if the eviction
proceeds".
Tenants
received a letter from Hooke & MacDonald estate agents on behalf of the
appointed receiver from Grant Thornton, who is the administrator of the estate
of Liam Maye, who is deceased.
NAMA,
which was owed millions arising from loans to Mr Maye, previously made an
application to remove the widow of the late developer as executor of his estate
and replace her with an administrator chosen by it or a court.
Mr
Maye was an extremely wealthy developer involved in projects including Dundrum
Town Centre and Dundrum Village, the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge
and in Adamstown, Dublin.
The
receiver sent a letter to tenants on January 14, advising them: "Please
note that I have succeeded to the interest of the landlord in the tenancy
agreement.
"This
letter is to advise you that as landlord we intend to sell the dwelling and
that as a consequence we require it to be vacated."
A
spokesperson for Grant Thornton said the notices are compliant with the
Tyrellstown legislation as only 9 apartments have been issued termination
notices and "Tyrellstown legislation is applicable to 10 properties and
above".
“The
tenants have been given an additional 28 days’ notice above statutory
obligations to allow for alternative accommodation to be sought,” the
spokesperson added.
A
spokeswoman for the Taoiseach said that he will "respond to any requests
for assistance."
She
said in a statement: "None of Taoiseach’s constituents have been in touch
with him or his constituency office about as of yet.
"He
will look in to the matter and respond to any requests for assistance made in
the normal way.
"Laws
to protect tenants have been considerably strengthened by the Government and it
is against the law for a landlord to issue more than ten notices to quit in a
development at any one time.
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