Unfinished estate residents on guard

WHILE the plight of residents of unfinished estates is clearly visible, many of those living in such estates were reluctant to talk on the record about the situation.

For starters, the majority of those who own their houses find themselves in negative equity. They generally purchased at premium prices during the property boom, often paying €225,000 to €240,000 for a three-bedroom semi-detached house.

Some such houses are now fetching around €60,000, or less, at quick-fire auctions.

“So why should we draw more public attention to the problems in our estates and make our properties even less attractive to potential buyers?” asked one owner, whose house is on the market.

Many of the houses in numerous unfinished estates are rented and, while complaining about hazards to playing children especially, residents were not willing to highlight their issues in the media.

“The rent has dropped and I’ve a good deal with the landlord. I don’t want to upset that,” said one.

Another issue is that residents have been pressurising local authorities, which have called in developers’ bonds, and county councillors to get necessary work done to culverts, roads, footpaths, open spaces and public lighting in the estates.

In some cases, negotiations on site resolution plans for ground works, between councils, banks and Nama, are at an advanced stage and residents do not want to risk undermining such negotiations.

“We’re living in hope that a plan will eventually be agreed to get the place tidied up and the work finished for once and for all. We’ve been waiting for years to get this done. We’re just praying a plan will soon be worked on,” said one resident.

Most of the residents approached by this reporter highlighted health and safety issues and apparent dangers to children who might wander into half-finished houses which, in some cases, are not securely fenced.

In other estates, empty alcohol bottles and cans, building materials and rubble, as well as varied items of rubbish — suggesting that illegal dumping is taking place — were scattered around green areas close to houses with young families.