A young couple who are “locked out” of a new house in a ghost estate in Co Clare will stage a protest outside the estate today.
Michelle Burke and William Buck, both 33, are spending almost €1,400 on a mortgage and rent every month despite buying a house at Ard na Deirge, Killaloe, on September 7th, 2006. The couple will be joined in the 1pm protest by father and son John Ryan snr and John Ryan jnr, who also cannot gain access to their completed two houses in the estate.
More than 150 people have pledged to join the couple who find themselves in a nightmare scenario of paying a mortgage for over six years and rent for over four for a house they cannot get into.
It is expected that Ms Burke will request an urgent meeting with Clare County Council to call in the €435,000 to complete services such as roads, water, sewerage and electricity to allow the three homeowners gain access to their properties.
"The country's bankers, developers, receivers and planners need to know our outrage. We greatly appreciate any support people can give on the day," she said.
Council's failure
The couple have claimed the council's failure to call in a planning bond for the original planning application has effectively left them in "limbo".
They paid a booking deposit in 2006 and were ready to draw down the remainder of the mortgage and move in in December 2009 when a receiver from KPMG was appointed by AIB after the original developer ran into financial difficulties.
This meant that services were not connected to the house and they were unable to move in.
The bank will not release the remainder of the funds until the house is “complete”’ by having services connected.
The council has stated it is fully aware of this development and very much understands the difficult circumstances the couple find themselves in.
"The council has met with the receiver a number of times regarding issues with this development.
Planning permission
"A revised planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála for development in May 2012 to AIB. This permission includes specific conditions relating to the site (house) owned by the Ms. Burke.
“The council is not in a position to draw down a bond when a ‘live’ planning permission is in place.
“The focus now is to ensure completion of the development as approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2012 and the council will work with all parties towards achieving this.
"The council continues to hold a bond in relation to the development," a spokesman explained.
Mortgage repayments
The couple have spent over €300,000 on the house in Ard na Deirge. This includes the €35,000 deposit, €150,000 drawn down from the mortgage, mortgage repayments, mortgage protection, the Bord Pleanála appeal, building insurance, solicitor's fees and other costs.
They are also paying €740 per month in mortgage payments as well as €650 in rent and have spent about €27,000 in rent in total.