Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Eamonn Farrell / Photocall / Photocall

A NUMBER OF events this week will have caught the attention of homeowners.

Not least of these is the ongoing outrage over water charges as voiced in water protests. There is reason for hope that the charges could now come to less than €200 for a family of four.

While new Exchequer figures showed the economy to be in fairly rude health – there was a shortfall in DIRT receipts, an incentive for first-time property buyers.

The Big Movers

Staying put

There was good news this week for people facing difficulty with mortgage repayments. The Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (IMHO) revealed on Tuesday that they had stopped almost 400 AIB repossessions in the past year. 

Sam Boal / Photocall Sam Boal / Photocall / Photocall

Under a project conducted between the AIB group and the IMHO more than 1,300 long-term resolutions were agreed between the bank and mortgage holders. In a third of these cases, individuals were facing repossessions. CEO of the organisation David Hall revealed that the group receive 125 calls a day from troubled homeowners.

On the rise 

There was increased concern this week that the Local Property Tax could rise dramatically in tandem with rising house prices.

These fears arose after a report from property website Daft.ie showed that asking prices in Dublin had risen by 25% compared on the same period last year.

A mandatory reevaluation of properties is set to take place November 2016, which the tax for 2017 shall then be based on. There have been calls for Government intervention to delay the reevaluation.

Moore Street 

Members of Dublin City council this week voted against a land-swap deal for premises on the City’s Moore Street. The swap would have seen the transfer of 14-17 Moore Street into the hands of the Council in exchange for 24-25 Moore Street.

The deal has significance in the build up to the 1916 centenary. The 14-17 Moore Street property is currently owned by Chartered Land and has National Monument status.

The property on Moore Street Laura Hutton / Photocall Laura Hutton / Photocall / Photocall

It is believed that the property was used by the leaders of the Rising and its swap for 24-25 Moore Street – which is currently used as a waste depot for a shopping centre – would allow the site to be developed into commemorative centre.

The Council voted 22 for and 38 against.

Under construction

• The Exchequer figures released this week showed a shortfall in receipts for the home-buyers incentive scheme DIRT – although things were pretty good overall. 
• A burst water pipe can be a real nightmare – especially when it ends up flooding a street. 
• A ghost estate in Co Roscommon was torn down this week after a long campaign by residents and homeowners to have the buildings demolished.  
• The One World Trade Centre saw its first residents moving in this week - the building stands on the site of the September 11 terror attacks that killed 2,606 people. 

One World Trade Centre AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

• From the rampant confusion surrounding the water charges it seems there could be some hope for homeowners. Tániste Joan Burton this week expressed her view that the charge would not exceed €200 for a family of four. 
• A landlord has been fined €55,000 for failing to register tenants. 
• Water butts – they’re in vogue. Woodie’s has reported sales more than doubling. 

Des res

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