Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Irish government are evil bastards-your worst nightmare. MICA scandal.

65 replies

Sofaking355 · 09/10/2021 11:40

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/blocks-like-weetabix-how-mica-scandal-upended-lives-in-ireland

www.euronews.com/2021/10/08/ireland-s-mica-scandal-owners-of-crumbling-homes-march-in-dublin-seeking-full-compensation

Basically across Donegal in Ireland, over 20000 people have their houses falling down due to deflective blocks. The people have been marching in Dulin looking for 100 percent redress but the govt will only pay out 90 percent and people can't afford the 10 percent. Isn't it your worst nightmare?

OP posts:

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 15:01

no insurance to claim off? How is that even legal?

I know right? It's complicated, but it seems like we don't know how many construction companies actually took out insurance for latent defects/structural issues. I presume it wasn't legally required of them at the time, though that might be wrong.

The other issue is that the government didn't set any standards that the materials had to comply to by law, allowing the manufacturers themselves to sign off on their products' safety. This is an enormous fuck up on the government's part.

This is helpful

www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/q-a-what-is-mica-and-why-are-people-protesting-over-it-1.4593301

dongke · 10/10/2021 15:20

The complete lack of responsibility of the people who bought these houses is something I cannot understand. It seems they never bothered to do a survey on the buildings they bought, refuse to take any legal action against the companies who supplied the blocks or build the houses several of which are still in business and simply expect the Irish taxpayer to completely cover all their costs. I for one am not happy to pay even 90% of these costs through my taxes. This money would be better spent addressing the serious housing shortage in Ireland

Blaming the homeowners who i'm sure are tax payers too. Nice!

Booboosweet · 10/10/2021 15:23

I'm not happy that taxpayers are paying out for this at all.

dongke · 10/10/2021 15:24

I mean the building companies should be paying but the gov won't be chasing that.

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 15:25

In fairness, Irish tax payers shoulder a considerable amount to begin with.

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 15:26

I mean the building companies should be paying but the gov won't be chasing that.

Because the government are complicit themselves. It's an utter shambles.

dongke · 10/10/2021 15:29

yes

MenoMom · 10/10/2021 16:04

Wouldn’t house insurance cover this? And if owners don’t have insurance I don’t think the tax payer should be fully responsible for the costs.
But if homeowners want the state to pay 100% of cost of rebuilding their houses be state owned and form part of local authority housing stock.

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 16:13

Wouldn’t house insurance cover this?

No, because the materials used were not deficient in legal terms.

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 16:14

But if homeowners want the state to pay 100% of cost of rebuilding their houses be state owned and form part of local authority housing stock

But what if your house falling down is a direct result of government incompetency?

Snookie00 · 10/10/2021 16:16

So did the manufacturers know they were selling defective products and the state didn’t enforce the regulations?

Member984815 · 10/10/2021 16:17

Mayo too , it's horrific. People I Know have to find rental property pay for storage for their things and wait to see what the government will pay for . Houses that they have been paying mortgages on for years and now they are worthless

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 16:35

So did the manufacturers know they were selling defective products and the state didn’t enforce the regulations?

Basically the state allowed the construction companies to self certify the materials. I'm not sure how cognisant the companies were that the materials were defective. But best case scenario they didn't check too carefully.

Dontcallmejacqui · 10/10/2021 16:59

A problem is that these houses are far bigger than the national average. If I'm in a two bed terraced house it's difficult to countenance funding a replacement 5 bed detached house for someone else.
Also I'm sure most of the houses are mortgaged. The banks hold the houses as collateral on the loans. Surely the banks could take the hit on their percentage?

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 17:10

Surely the banks could take the hit on their percentage?

Yeah that'll happen 🤪

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 17:13

Also they're 5 bed houses in Donegal/Sligo. So worth a lot less than a 2 bed in Dublin.

Don't get me wrong, it's not great that the tax payer is footing this bill, but given that the construction companies won't, I don't know what else can be done.

Powertoyou · 10/10/2021 17:19

What about building inspectors which signed off these homes? Who was responsible for testing the suitability and standard of the blocks
.?
House insurance?

TheKeatingFive · 10/10/2021 18:32

Who was responsible for testing the suitability and standard of the blocks

The manufactures were. As per government guidelines. Recipe for disaster.

BasementIdeas · 10/10/2021 18:44

To be honest it would be awful but not exactly worst nightmare to lose 10% value of my house. I can think of plenty of much worse things

Comedycook · 10/10/2021 18:49

Just found out about this today after reading another post on here. It's absolutely horrendous..those poor people. I felt anxiety just reading about it and looking at the pictures.

walksen · 10/10/2021 19:04

". It seems they never bothered to do a survey on the buildings they bought, refuse"

The ignorance of this post is breathtaking. Even full surveys would not analyse the composition of the blocks which would obviously appear fine when built but then deteriorate over a period of years as the mica absorbed moisture.

Ridiculous that all manufacturers and building firms can avoid any culpability but I am for one am very happy the government of Ireland will be using your taxes to compensate these people in light of the poor regulation involved.

buckeejit · 10/10/2021 21:20

It's so shit. All in the one area too so logistically rebuilds will be a nightmare

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 23:15

But if homeowners want the state to pay 100% of cost of rebuilding their houses be state owned and form part of local authority housing stock

so does that mean if your child is sick and goes for an op the state should own your child seen as the taxpayer paid for it?

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 23:17

To be honest it would be awful but not exactly worst nightmare to lose 10% value of my house. I can think of plenty of much worse things

you do know the people have to move out of their houses, have to keep paying their mortgage, have to pay rent, have to pay for refurbishments under the scheme, there won't be enough properties to rent...

please educate yourself before making such ignorant comments.

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 23:20

A problem is that these houses are far bigger than the national average. If I'm in a two bed terraced house it's difficult to countenance funding a replacement 5 bed detached house for someone else

again go educate yourself, it is happening in plenty of housing estates which are the standard house you'd get anywhere. That and property is cheaper there as Donegal is remote and has poor employment prospects and is disadvantaged. Many of the fathers have to work elsewhere during the week.

Flip

1 2 3