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Hand hold needed, myself and family are homeless.

122 replies

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 13:56

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.

OP posts:
HoneyDewMel · 10/10/2021 15:44

So ultimately the fault really is with the Quarry and the Governments failure to check the quality etc of these mica bricks.

user1000000000009 · 10/10/2021 15:45

This is an awful situation op.

I feel for you and your family. Please keep reaching out

fluffiphlox · 10/10/2021 15:45

Firstly, that is a terrible situation to be in.
Did the Local Authorities inspect these houses? Surely they must shoulder some responsibility? I’m in the UK and when we had a medium sized extension built we must have had three or four inspections. Are things really that slack? There must be some sort of building standards surely to goodness.

HoneyDewMel · 10/10/2021 15:48

I am a extremely empathetic to your situation OP

If I had to move out of my house right now because of substandard bricks causing it to fall down and lose money because of it and live in a caravan.

Well that would take me to the edge of breaking point.

AnnieJ1985 · 10/10/2021 15:51

@HoneyDewMel

I am a extremely empathetic to your situation OP

If I had to move out of my house right now because of substandard bricks causing it to fall down and lose money because of it and live in a caravan.

Well that would take me to the edge of breaking point.

This is what it boils down to right now. People are under so much stress and worry, now, waiting to see what happens. Who will blink first. Putting their kids to bed, in houses that might fall down on them. Regardless of who is at fault, there is nowhere for all these families to go to.
antoniawhite · 10/10/2021 15:52

eggsdancing You’ve had some really shitty replies. I don’t think you’re catastrophising - it sounds a bloody awful situation and none of it your fault. Let’s hope the publicity the situation is getting will force your government to come up with better ways of supporting you all.
Sending a hug. I can’t imagine how hard it must feel.

antoniawhite · 10/10/2021 15:54

@dongke

I think you would get a lot more sympathy if you make it clear that you are just looking for social housing like refugees get. I would back that 100%.

I think most normal people are sympathetic to the OPs situation.

This. There are only a couple of posters being unpleasant.
Tilltheend99 · 10/10/2021 15:58

Yes, that’s awful. Can you use the grant on a different property or can you only use it to rebuild?

Do any of the other people affected run a support group? Or could you start a Facebook page where everyone affected can discuss what they are going through and different options for getting through it? What about a class action lawsuit?

If you are suicidal please reach out to a helpline like Samaritans or Irish equivalent.

Children can be surprisingly resistant. All of your lives are definitely worth it. If you are a nurse you may be able to access free counselling through work.

Hope things improve for you soon Flowers

Yourstupidityexhaustsme · 10/10/2021 16:17

God I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I cannot imagine how traumatic this must be for you.

Is there Citizen's Advice/a charity you can contact? You will not be the only family to be facing it so surely there must be some scheme that has been placed into action to look for a solution/recompense?

Are you able to contact a solicitor and assess your options? I'm so sorry to suggest it but would bankruptcy be a possible option? Could you remove your name from the house deeds and your husband declare bankruptcy alone? That may not even be legal and is most likely a terrible idea but that's the only way I can think for you to get out of the mortgage payments.

Regardless, I can imagine it feels like death would be an easier outcome, especially with so many dependants but that is never the answer. This is as bad as it is going to get, you're at rock bottom now - the only way is up. If you can survive this you can survive anything.

You've received some excellent advice on here and I hope your situation looks up soon.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 10/10/2021 16:24

So you would like the government to give you social housing

As this isn't a problem of the OP's making and her husband has MS, yes, of course. Isn't that what social housing is for? And it would only be a temporary measure.

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 10/10/2021 16:25

@fluffiphlox

Firstly, that is a terrible situation to be in. Did the Local Authorities inspect these houses? Surely they must shoulder some responsibility? I’m in the UK and when we had a medium sized extension built we must have had three or four inspections. Are things really that slack? There must be some sort of building standards surely to goodness.
Your experience sounds very unusual I have to say. Building standards in the UK are appalling. Look at any new build estate. Jerry built expensive rubbish.
CalamariGames · 10/10/2021 16:31

Certainly the OPs family should be amongst the first in line for social housing, with a disabled husband and young dc. The council will have a hard time rehousing all the families affected but they should be doing the best they can, to find everyone suitable places.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 10/10/2021 16:41

@Eggsdancing it's a disgusting situation.
Thank you for posting about it though - I've posted the Guardian article on it on both FB and Twitter as I think it should be more widely spread, what a disgrace this is.

How dare the govt/buildings profession allow this to happen?!

CantBeAssed · 10/10/2021 16:51

My heart goes out to you op...what a horrendous situation to be...I have heard about the scandal and it beggars belief that more is not being done to help those involved...
Sending you best wishes and hoping something positive happens soon to give you some peace.Flowers

minimecantrollerskate · 10/10/2021 16:52

OP'S EXPLANATION OF HOUSE REBUILD COST, WHICH IS NOT 1.4 MILLION

No we paid 200k for the house in 2005, inflation happened in the meaning so to rebuild it we are looking at a 350k bill. The redress scheme only covers 90 percent of the 200k we paid back then. No expenses are being paid fr the rent we have to pay in caravan and we are still tied to the mortgage in this house.

TriciaMcMillan · 10/10/2021 16:54

@MyGhastIsFlabbered

I'm sorry some people are piling on you OP, it sounds so stressful. Some people need to take an empathy pill. I must admit I've read the thread and still don't understand how is 10% of your house is €140k how it's not worth €1.4 million but that's by the by - if you say it's not I believe you. I think you've (naturally) got your panic head on at the moment and any planning in this state is impossible. I wish you and your family all the best & hope you get properly housed soon.
OP is saying her house cost £200k originally, but with inflation it will cost much more to build now. If the current redress proposal is 90% of original cost, i.e. £180k, then adding the 10% (£20k) they have to find, on top of the cost of inflation could mean another £140k to achieve the same house. That's before you take account of all the other fees and costs.

It's clearly a dreadful situation and I have nothing but sympathy for anyone affected. Flowers

squee123 · 10/10/2021 17:19

The OP is feeling desperate and potentially suicidal and people want to come on here and snipe at her. Charming. Show some compassion people. This is not the thread to be goading someone because you disagree with the approach being taken by the authorities.

It sounds like an extremely tough situation OP. I have a loved one with MS and I appreciate how tough it can be Flowers

leakymcleakleak · 10/10/2021 17:24

OP I'm sorry if I appear unsympathetic, I'm really not. Its a terrible situation, and I think everyone who has lost their family homes should have it rectified as close to like-for-like as possible.

The only reason for assuming you're catastrophising is what you've presenting as fact - the redress scheme will only cover 90% of the cost of building when it was built - is a much much worse scenario than what it currently being discussed. It seems very very likely that something much better will be agreed in the coming weeks.

If I'm honest, it seems to have been a 'tactic' of some of the campaigning groups to try to push the worst stories front and centre in the media and on messaging boards, while ignoring the fact they're negotiating position is that every buy to let landlord affected, or holiday homeowner, should be fully covered, and to reject the idea the government might undertake any cost cutting measures in the repair or rebuilding. So given how many misconceptions were in your first few posts, it seemed either you were misconstruing it, or were genuinely so freaked out you were allowing yourself to believe the worst case scenario.

I think its clear you are in a really bad place if you're at the point of moving out, that must put you in one of the most badly affected houses. And the stress of your husbands condition is really significant too. All I can say is, as much as you can, try to step back from the bigger picture. I was actually defending the 100% redress scheme to someone recently, because I do think people's own houses should be replaced. It can be frustrating seeing the negotiating position of the campaigners which I think is just setting people like you back. But most people in the country really do want people whose family homes have been damaged to have them put back how they should be.

I think its very likely there will be a decent redress scheme announced within the next few weeks, and hopefully that will include plans for how to house people unable to stay while work is undergoing. In an absolute worst case scenario, you do have options, as crappy as they may seem now. I know people who had to declare bankruptcy after the 2008 crash through no fault of their own, and they've all said the aftermath of that was actually much better than the stress. I would hope you can access HAP, and potentially rent, as a stopgap and that at a minimum government can put pressure on the banks to bring about mortgage holidays. Its a rubbish situation and I do hope its resolved soon

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 17:39

Thank you for sharing the article

OP posts:
Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 17:40

Note that the redress scheme doesn't cover refurbishment

OP posts:
Sickoffamilydrama · 10/10/2021 18:01

I'm sorry you are going through this.

This may or not be helpful we researched for a long time doing a self build as we live in Bicester which has the graven hill the biggest in Europe self build project. My Dad has recently knocked a bungalow down and rebuilt.

You might well be able to save money by reusing the foundations you already have and also if you stay in the same foot print planning can be a lot easier at least it is in the UK

Then there are amazing pre fab houses that they build in days and especially the bungalows which might work better for your DH are fairly cheap we were impressed with
this company or this which is more expensive than Dan wood.

They also offer a design service so might be able to look at the current footprint of the house and design to match the foundations.

fluffiphlox · 10/10/2021 18:37

@lockdownmadnessdotcom
It may be unusual now perhaps given the state of finances, but ten years ago we did indeed have inspections before during and after the work.

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