Source: Shutterstock/mubus7

THIS WEEK THERE was some good news for people searching for a mortgage.

Ulster Bank announced plans to cut their rates for both new and existing customers.

There was also some discussion about the placement of a homeless hostel in central Dublin – and whether the cost of the project was justified.

The Big Movers

Cheaper mortgages

This week Ulster Bank announced it would be cutting both their fixed and variable rate mortgages.

It follows cuts to mortgage rates by Permanent TSB and the Bank of Ireland last month. While these two banks are only extending the savings to new customers – current customers of Ulster Bank will be able to avail of their new rates.

How the bank's new rates will look Source: Ulster Bank

The bank’s standard variable rate will be cut by 0.20% while its fixed rates will be reduced by between 0.41% and 0.24%.

Irish Water 

As could be expected, there was much confusion in the run up to the Irish Water registration deadline.

People were uncertain whether failing to register in time would result in a fine. The Minister Alan Kelly came out and said that Monday’s deadline should more be seen as an “administrative date”.

The Minister on RTÉ's Six One News earlier in the week Source: RTÉ News

He said that while there is no fine in place for those who do not register – they will be issued with the default charge of €260.

Nimby-ism?

There was some controversy on social media after a Dublin Fine Gael councillor referred to homelessness as a ‘buzz issue’ at a council meeting.

It came after the council voted in favour of forty-person homeless hostel to be placed in Dublin’s Georgian quarter. Councillor Kate O’Connell explained via Twitter why she would not be supporting the move.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, O’Connell explained the reasons for her vote were purely economical.

Under Construction

• With ongoing confusion about who exactly will be responsible for the collection of water charges – a landlord group has called for water services to be cut off where tenants don’t pay. 
• This week TheJournal.ie spoke to one couple who saw their rent go up 51% in one month. 
• The gates of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house went up for sale for €177,000. 
• New government figures showed that a large number of families are still becoming homeless.    
• Close to half of all household septic tanks failed their inspections – mostly due to a lack of de-sludging.  
• Is this the grooviest house in Ireland? Take a look and see for yourself… 
• Applying for a mortgage, but haven’t a clue? We asked the banks where to begin.

Ireland's grooviest house?

Des res

With things starting to take on a more prosperous look around the country – maybe now is a good time to look back on the Celtic Tiger-era. In a new exhibition by Johnny Savage – the discarded buildings of the time are captured in a series of eerie twilight photographs.