Room to Improve (v2)

303

The houses are staged. But the stairs was built to be kept the way it was without painting or varnishing

It was pretty obvious that they were still living in the house. All their belongings were still there - even photos. No way they would leave photos to get damp in an unlived in house. The nonsense of them moving in with the sister before they had even discussed plans was for TV.

The listing for the house when it was for sale!

At the start of the show when they were showing Dermot around the house they even had a lamp on,which shows electricity was still connected. Dermot mentioned that they had fresh flowers in a house that they were not living in - she quickly said they were fake but they clearly were fresh Lillie's 😂. Kids bath toys still there etc.

I'm guessing they wanted to avail of whatever grants was available to them - derelict/vacant whatever and lied that they had to move out and in with the sister. It's not clear what grants they did actually get though. If they got the vacant home grant then it's a joke as they were clearly living there!

It's not clear what grants they did actually get though.

Think at the end QS gave figure of 90 something from grants.

I had expected that electricity needed to be disconnected to quality as vacant.

Just shows if these 'loopholes' can be shown on TV that there are even more ways around them.

Its 2 years with electricity disconnected I think, thats the least that would be asked for.

As for derelict, theres no way that house would be in any way derelict, the structure was solid.

Thats the problem with all these grants, people are abusing them.

Surely there's a simple checks and balances process for approving these grants.

Although I wouldn't be remotely surprised if there wasn't. They probably just check the date of construction.

Had a look at the planning permission for the house, retention permission was only granted last week, 11 Jan 2024. Applied for last Nov.

The previous owner also applied for retention permission prior to selling it in September 2022.

Sold €303k, asking price €250k

well if you look at the beginning of the show Dermot himself was the one suggesting and outlining these grants on a spreadsheet. He suggested them. He also was on the front of the Sunday Indo yesterday for seeking clarification from the Department about these grants (or one in particular) https://evoke.ie/2024/01/14/entertainment/dermot-bannon-show-meeting

So he's definitely covering himself in a very public way about these grants and if there is any blame it has to be the Housing Department/Councils who are sanctioning them. You can't blame people for being advised to apply for them and for getting them. I'd be applying if I was advised to. Its huge money. I think the Government is throwing buckets of money at the building sector for the simple reason they want house built, whatever way it takes. They are making it easy. Pity they wouldn't do something about British investment banks hoovering up entire housing estates for ordinary people who don't go on these show.

The woman lost her mother and a child in the space of 3 years.

She used the grants available to anyone thats eligible (that Dermot probably told them about, lets be honest. I would say he filled out the paperwork and all).

Yet in here we have people sneering her hair, tan and teeth, while they probably idolise sports people and celebrities.

Good christ this place is toxic as hell

Essentially did they pay 300k for a site? Would it not have worked out much cheaper to get a green field site outside of Cashel and design the same house?

I feel like they were blinded by the view when buying the property. Lovely couple though.

What was lovely on last night's show was just how excited the couple, in particular the lady, was about the renovation and the progress. Every time they went to the site she was beaming and so happy and excited. My heart broke for them when they lost their baby and I can't imagine how it must have been a bittersweet moment when they moved into the house.

However their champagne tastes didn't seem to align with their more lemonade budget. After already being told they are over budget they are enquiring can they get a home gym put in the shed, get the grounds landscaped. Personally I didn't like the furniture in the house, but that's just my personal taste.

I take it that on RTI that when someone says their budget is X, it really means it's X + €50k/€100k. I can understand going a little over if you are unsure what things cost or if there are price increases or unforeseens. But if I engaged an architect to design a renovation for €250k, I don't want the plans for a €325k job.

The whole point was that they wanted the view.

Pity the government wouldn't throw buckets of money at the thousands of home owners in Donegal, Mayo and beyond to get their crumbling homes fixed.

They created a scheme that is next to impossible to access, with Donegal County Council asking for so many hoops to be jumped through before you can move through each stage of the process. People have been in it for a few years and are basically no further forward to getting their homes fixed.

Lovely couple, obviously dealing with a few hearbreaking events and making the best of what they had.

That said, essentially it was 300K for a site but thats yet another issue with our failed planning system I would suggest.

I am not sure about Tipp but I know in Galway is is ridiculously difficult to get planning permission on a site, there are a significant number of hoops to jump through, including the housing need test which is difficult to pass if you already have a house. It's "easier" buy an old house and remodel etc

In general they spent a tonne of money on the house - closee to 600 K all in, a few miles out from the village on a road I doubt you could walk on, granted a decent view. If they could afford it and are happy - thats sound.

Its not derelict, nowhere near it.

Try and tell Revenue that your house is a derelict house and shouldn't be liable for Property tax and see what they will ask for.

I completely agree with you, my sister lives in Donegal and its enraging what has happened with Mica up there. I am just saying I don't blame the couple in last nights show. Dermot Bannon suggested all those grants. And he seems to be publicly saying everything is ok by being on the front of the Sunday Indo yesterday. I am not saying it is right/ wrong/ good/bad..... I am simply stating the facts.

I know an awful lot about the entire process of these grants. My own daughter has been going through a derelict farmhouse renovation process for the last 2 years, trying to avail of the grants and trying now to get them paid, its all they've talked about .

I think not. I mentioned earlier in the thread, I suspect DB has led a few couples up the garden path in terms of what grants they can avail of and his latest activism is probably an attempt to show those couples that he is trying to do something about it.

I would love to know what architects think of DB and RTI... I'm not sure the ridiculous budget overruns and general attitude to spend is doing the profession much good.

Well I hope that poor couple don't have to repay another 100k. Would be devastating news for them.