Web Summit loses appeal over €20k worth of damage at rented house

The judge said Web Summit's position was 'based on a flawed premise' that the disposal, accumulation and blockage of wastes in these circumstances was normal wear and tear

The case centres on Web Summit's rental of a five-bedroom house in Dartry, as accommodation for new and visiting staff, in which the kitchen sink was blocked leading to extensive water damage due to its staff disposing of coffee granules, grease and other food materials in the kitchen sink. File photo: Eóin Noonan/Web Summit via Sportsfile

The High Court has dismissed an appeal by Web Summit over a €20,000 bill it was landed with due to its staff disposing of coffee granules, grease and other food materials in the kitchen sink of a rented house in Dublin.

The global tech conference organiser had appealed a Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) tribunal decision that found the use of the sink for these purposes—which led to a blockage and extensive water damage due to a leaking pipe—was non-normal use and a breach of tenancy obligations. The RTB opposed the appeal.