Hand hold needed, myself and family are homeless.

[Eggsdancing]

I am one of those affected by the mica scandal in Ireland where the houses are falling down and there is little Government support. I am a 47-year-old mother of four with a disabled husband. I am the breadwinner and we have to move out of our house as it is set to fall down. I only have 2 sisters who face similar so we can't stay with them and brother lives in Canada. My parents are dead.

I don't know what I am looking for here, I feel ready to just drop. I am trying to stay positive for my kids, the oldest being 11. I really don't know how I am going to cope. We are left financially ruined and our house is falling down around us and unsafe to live in. We have to move into a caravan. It feels like hell, I thought my husband getting MS in 2015 was the worst thing to happen but this is hell. I literally don't know how I can cope. I have lost my home.

Agree the government needs to accept full responsibility.

What is wrong with your house that means it's uninhabitable

I see now. It seems inconceivable that the builders can get away with it, and that there's no insurance to fall back on.
It's a dreadful situation.

It seems inconceivable that the builders can get away with it, and that there's no insurance to fall back on

that's why it is effectively seen as the government's fault for not regulating it.

I'm so sorry, you life sounds hard enough without this! I probably don't know what I'm talking about but I'm old enough to remember when mortgages shot up to 15%+ in the early 90s & I had young children, ill husband and did anything to try to keep the house (in the end gave in and downsized to tiny house that was really far too small for family of 5 but the stress relief was immense) I was main breadwinner too. At that time a lot of people were just handing keys into the lenders and walking away. Would something like that be an option. Stop paying mortgage to build up a deposit, hand keys in to lenders and walk away and rent a house elsewhere.

Thank you, I was looking to do that but getting out of a mortgage is bloody difficult.

The video doesn't really explain why these houses are falling down, and it sounds as if at least some of them were self builds.
What exactly is the problem? Shoddy workmanship or poor quantity materials?

The video doesn't really explain why these houses are falling down, and it sounds as if at least some of them were self builds.
What exactly is the problem? Shoddy workmanship or poor quantity materials

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

Basically it is cancer in the brick, the mineral in the bricks that absorbs water and causes walls to crack and crumble, is estimated to have affected more than 20,000 homes. The govt have regulations in the quarry to regulate this but did not enforce it and subsewquently houses throughout Ireland now are beginning to tumble.

Isn't there any redress against the builder

people tried that but due to loopholes, the builders don't have to have insurance and can walk away unscathed.

To be honest, I would stop paying the mortgage on your house. What can the mortgage company do except reclaim the house? They wouldn't want it and you're not living in it anyway.
If you can get 90% compensation, will this be 90% of its current value, or 90% of the original price?
Would compensation be enough for you to buy another house?
Sending hugs, it sounds a horrendous situation.

OP I think you're catastrophising a bit here here.

I'm also in Ireland and a lot of what you are saying is just incorrect. There's no agreed redress scheme that says you have to find 10% and the prices are set at build prices, there's no officially signed off redress scheme in place yet, its all part of negotation and the government has committed to 100% in principal.

The local groups in Donegal of affected residents aren't happy with some of the details that have leaked, but to be fair, some of their demands seem quite unreasonable. They're basically saying all houses have to be rebuilt as they were, we're talking 2500 square foot huge luxury houses, all fittings etc etc, and holiday homes, as well as more 'normal' family homes. There has been no mention I've heard of of using the amounts it cost to build 15 years ago.

Most people feel huge sympathy for the affected families, and you're obviously in a terrible situation, but I'd be shocked if a sensible solution and compromise isn't reached. I'll be honest and say personally, it does seem a bit mad the government is expected to pay a 4 billion redress bill to cover houses including houses bought after these defects were known about, and its just accepted the quarries and builders involved get off Scott free. There are lots of situations I can think of, where, for example, apartment tenants have had to pay out to upgrade fire safety and there's been no government contribution, never mind 100%. It seems there's a compromise to be worked out somewhere in between.

Its nonetheless appallingly stressful. How bad are the defects in your house now? Is it currently not inhabitable or are you worried about the progressive damage? It is very likely a full redress scheme will be decided in the next month or so. It sounds ike you've gone down a rabbit hole of reading the worst case fears people have for what will be in the redress scheme, I think if you can wait a bit longer till you see what emerges it might not be that bad at all.

The billions the government are already pledging for the problem that isn't of their making isn't enough no? I'm sorry for your situation but you aren't the only one facing homelessness in this country, there are many who are unfortunately. They would only live to be handed 100s of 1000s to fund their housing. Sell the land your house was built on and buy a smaller home elsewhere.

I see!

It sounds as if it's affecting lots of houses, and many people in similar positions to you.

Keep fighting - there's not much those of us who live in the U.K. can do too help other than moral support, but get together and keep fighting. Use the press and the international press.
I can't see how the govt can get away with not supporting a family of small kids, with a parent with MS, and expecting them to live in a caravan.

Also: here is a more up to date news article that captures where things are: www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/1008/1252626-mica-analysis/

I'll be honest and say if your house takes I'll also be honest and say if it will cost 350 to rebuild your house in Donegal, it must be a pretty huge house. My 1200 square foot house on a difficult to access site in Dublin is only insured for I think 180 rebuild costs based on the insurers calculations. The idea of having a cap for people who aren't happy having remedial work doesn't seem insane. I don't mean to be unsympathetic but surely even if you need to build a slightly smaller house that should be manageable?

I'll be honest and say personally, it does seem a bit mad the government is expected to pay a 4 billion redress bill to cover houses including houses bought after these defects were known about, and its just accepted the quarries and builders involved get off Scott free

the govt did not enforce the laws, they failed at their job so no not ''mad'' at all. Worse is they are allowing the same quarries to keep supplying and no regulations have changed so this will keep happening. The banks got a 64 billion pay out in 2008, this is much less. Also the people of Dublin got helped when it happened to them and 100 percent redress was given.

@eggsdancing keep going lovely. I am from Donegal but living in Dublin so not personally dealing with Mica, but seeing the fallout among my schoolfriends and my home town. I have MS too. If you need a chat PM me. I can't help but I can listen. Mind yourself

I'll be honest and say if your house takes I'll also be honest and say if it will cost 350 to rebuild your house in Donegal, it must be a pretty huge house

most of the houses are in estates and ''normal-sized'' houses you'd get in Dublin- what about all them people?

@Gardenlass

To be honest, I would stop paying the mortgage on your house. What can the mortgage company do except reclaim the house? They wouldn't want it and you're not living in it anyway. If you can get 90% compensation, will this be 90% of its current value, or 90% of the original price? Would compensation be enough for you to buy another house? Sending hugs, it sounds a horrendous situation.

Yes I was thinking the same, walk away from the house and rent somewhere. I understand that may be difficult with your husband's disabilities. Is there much social housing, would the council help?

We are left financially ruined and our house is falling down around us and unsafe to live in. We have to move into a caravan.
I wouldn't say the OP is catastrophising. Also, pointing out that other people are homeless isn't exactly helpful either.

Hello there,
I'm so sorry this happened.
I was homeless once with my seven year old DD.

It was beyond tough, but one thing I do believe in is that the love which exists in my family is worth more than anything.

I was about your age when it happened.

I'm so sorry this is so hard.

Perhaps as one poster said on mumsnet the best thing we can do here is raise awareness, if needed.

Take things step by step.

Easier said than done, I know, but there may be more solutions that you are presently aware of.

Thinking of you.

How bad are the defects in your house now? Is it currently not inhabitable or are you worried about the progressive damage

we have to move out as it is too dangerous, we were told it could fall in at any time.

Is there much social housing, would the council help

none really and now the council are or will be overwhelmed with the homeless looking for help. It's like being a refugee in your own country.

@Eggsdancing

Is there much social housing, would the council help

none really and now the council are or will be overwhelmed with the homeless looking for help. It's like being a refugee in your own country.

Would you stop! You are going to be handed 100s of 1000s of euro and that's like being a refugee is it? I don't know what type of refugees you have in donegal but that doesn't happen in the rest of the country.