23 FAMILIES WILL LOSE THEIR HOMES IN MASS EVICTION Mum’s ordeal as Dail told flats firm wants new tenants on higher rent
A YOUNG mother last night told of her trauma after being ordered to quit the home she loves.
Aimee O’riordan, 26, is one of 23 families being turfed out of their apartments amid claims in the Dail that the owners want to replace them with tenants paying higher rents.
The mum, who has a four-year-old son, has lived in Cork’s Leeside Apartments for five years and pays more than €700 a month.
Now a TD has vowed to back residents’ fight to stay in the complex.
Aimee told The Mirror: “I got the letter on October 12.
“I heard something outside so I went to look and someone was taping a letter to my door.
“I read the letter and notice of termination.
“I needed to get my son out of the door and to school so it didn’t really hit me until I was walking down the stairs and saw the notice stuck to another door. Then I realised it was all of us.”
The mass eviction was raised by Corknorth Central TD Mick Barry on Wednesday.
He said in the Dail that residents have been asked to leave due to refurbishment, adding: “We are looking at the issue of mass evictions, the reason is profiteering.”
Mr Barry urged Minister Eoghan Murphy to close the loophole that allows landlords to evict tenants citing renovations.
Aimee said she has been given until March to leave the apartment but wants to stay.
She added: “Some people are afraid and leaving already. We are trying to fight what has happened.
“It’s been a horrible two or three weeks, I’m still trying to get my head around it.
“I don’t know where I will be in six months; when my son asks where we it was the Aimee must leave home by March are going or where we will end up I can’t tell him.”
Aimee added she was paying €736 a month in rent but can’t find anywhere to compare with the rate.
She said: “I wouldn’t have a problem leaving if there was somewhere to go.
“I’ve been looking and so far only found one suitable place for me and my son – it’s one bedroom and it’s more expensive.
“He goes to the primary school near here, it would be highly inconvenient trying to find other suitable accommodation.
“I don’t want to leave, these are modern apartments, my son loves it and I’ve put effort into it myself.”
Speaking in the Dail, Mr Barry said the main reason for homelessness is when a family receives a notice to quit from a private landlord.
He added: “If a landlord wants to raise the rent, get them out, get new people in and charge them more substantial refurbishment is the way to go these days.
“I believe people who have notices to quit hanging over them should be included in the homelessness figures.
“In this block we have young families, we have kids who go to school in the vicinity.”
Lugus Capital, which recently bought the building, said it is to undergo a €3million from next month.
It added: “Leeside Apartments are currently not in compliance with 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.
“There are only 23 residential tenancies. All have been issued notices, with full notice periods corresponding to the length of tenancy.
“The landlord is fully complying with the Residential Tenancies Act.”