Mother in fear she will lose her home
A MOTHER who is being forced to leave her rented flat so refurbishments can be done is ‘terrified’ she will not get back in.
Aimee O’Riordan is among 23 families and single tenants who have been told to quit the Leeside Complex in Cork city centre by March.
The new owners say they want to carry out a €3million plan to bring it up to fire safety standards.
However, Ms O’Riordan, 26, told the Irish Daily Mail she has nowhere to go and is worried about losing her home. She said: ‘I am living there five years and my son is four-and-half. I don’t know what to do. We have been told this is a matter for health and safety and to bring it up to date with fire safety, but we were told a few weeks ago that the fire safety is up to date.
‘It is a modern building, they said they are doing a complete refurbishment on communal areas, flooring, fire doors, but I don’t understand the need for a complete overhaul.
‘I am sceptical about it all. I am under the impression it is being done to put up the rent.’
The UCC student, who is in her second year of her BA degree in social work, said there are 70 apartments in the building with students and families as tenants.
She added: ‘I know a lot of us are students and we are all afraid. Many are foreign nationals with limited English. I am personally up the walls with it. This is a nice place to live, I have built my life around this home, my college, my friends, my son’s school. It is hugely important for me. My life is set up here and my son has just started school.’
Lugus Capital, the new owner of the building, which was bought in October, served notice on its tenants stating that it needs the building to be vacant in order to carry out refurbishments.
A spokesman said: ‘Cork’s Leeside Apartments are to undergo a €3million refurbishment, with works to commence in December 2017.
‘Leeside Apartments are not in compliance with their fire certificates, so the refurbishment is necessary not only to bring the building up to modern standards but also to maintain the safety of the residents.
‘Lugus Capital acquired the building at the start of October 2017 and, as part of their acquisition process, carried out a full structural survey and fire safety inspection.’
Refurbishments for health and safety