RETIREES RENTING HOMES in a Co Sligo community have spoken of their dismay after the owner of the houses commenced eviction proceedings.

Six households in the coastal town of Enniscrone in west Sligo – whose residents are aged ranging from their 50s to 80s – must move out by 5 June next year.

The affected homes are part of a wider estate of 27 houses for independent living, dotted around a nursing home.

The homes – part of an estate named Sonas Retirement Village – were previously owned by Sonas, the former owners of the nursing home, but rented out privately.

There were changes to the ownership of both the nursing home and the surrounding houses earlier this year.

Previously owned by a group known as Sonas, the nursing home is now owned by a separate group, Ethos Care.

While some of the houses have since been sold to private owners, most of the 27 homes in the estate are now owned by Nasso BK Holdings Ltd, an Athlone-based company.

Whilst a landlord is legally entitled to commence eviction proceedings, the situation raises questions over protection for renters, ahead of significant changes to the sector coming in March.

Sonas Retirement Village

The estate is known as a retirement village. However, although the houses are beside the nursing home there has never been any arrangement for the tenants to receive care from the home.

Affected residents have told The Journal that significant health and mobility challenges are present among those who face eviction. One resident has lived there for 12 years.

Another resident said that it has been “overwhelming” to deal with the realisation they will lose their home.

“For all of us, this retirement village was meant to be our safe, permanent home,” one resident told us while requesting anonymity. Another person said that they had sold their previous home to retire in Enniscrone.

“We thought it was a way we could be independent. We thought it was such a safe bet,” this person said.

Village established 20 years ago

The notices to quit were delivered by solicitors acting on behalf of Nasso BK Holdings Ltd.

The company’s directors were previously long-serving directors of Sonas before stepping down upon completing the sale to Ethos Care earlier this year, a fact noted in corporate filings and not linked to the current decision.

The Journal contacted solicitors for Nasso BK Holdings but did not receive a response before publication.

When contacted, the Sonas management team told The Journal that the new owners of the Sonas group – Ethos Care – own and operate the 57-room nursing home on the site solely and “have no ownership of, or involvement in, the 27 independent living units” located on the grounds.

The tenants in Enniscrone have been offered a chance to move back into the homes at a later date, if the landlord’s plans to sell fall through within nine months of next June’s termination date.

This option was dismissed by the residents we spoke to. One woman said:

Who wants to come back after nine months – do they know what age we are? We’re all here because we have health problems.

Local Independent councillor Joe Queenan – who is among the politicians assisting the families – told The Journal that residents have been placed in a “very stressful” position.

Queenan expressed concern that the sale would negatively impact vulnerable residents with medical conditions.

One house was recently put up for sale began with an asking price of €95,000, according to the details of the auction. In that case, the house was sold with the tenant remaining in situ.

Lack of housing in west Sligo

Queenan said Sligo County Council “will do everything they can” to assist tenants but said there is a severe shortage of housing in the area.

Tenants have appealed for the council to buy the homes through the Tenant in Situ scheme, which allows renters to stay in their privately rented home even if the landlord decides to sell.

However, as The Journal reported previously, Sligo County Council was among the local authorities to have run out of funding. It had prevented homelessness for 35 families before then.

Local representatives have warned that, even if homes become available, they may not meet the standards required for people with serious medical needs.

A town plan produced by the council last year found that the local housing market has been “shaped” by tourism, which have “resulted in the excessive development of low-quality holiday homes”.

This is one of the factors that make the retirees’ homes attractive in the current market according to local sources, as they are already kitted out to a higher standard.

“It’s no different in west Sligo than in another part of the country. There are almost no houses to rent, full stop,” Queenan said.