Being pregnant is already a challenging time for any woman, but imagine having to demolish most of your newly renovated house, which you’ve already spent €40,000 on, all while dealing with the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy. This is the heart-wrenching story of a garda from Portlaoise, Ireland, who is now facing this devastating reality due to a planning permission issue that has left her with no other option. It’s a stark reminder of the complexities of home ownership and how easily things can take a turn for the worst when planning permission is not dealt with cautiously. Here, we take a closer look at this case and why a simple mistake can have such catastrophic consequences.
Janice Doyle, a 36-year-old pregnant garda from Drogheda, has been left devastated after being informed that she will need to demolish the majority of her dream house. She had paid out over €40,000 on construction work after buying the bungalow near the town center. She had taken out a €50,000 credit union loan to pay for the renovations that included constructing an extension and a second storey. The engineer who inspected the property stated she will need at least another €50,000 to put things right after being informed by Louth County Council surrounding a planning permission matter that prompted her to get the inspection carried out.
The engineer’s report recommended a litany of changes, including demolishing the rear extension and rebuilding it. The engineer concluded that the remedial works to the original house and the partially constructed rear extension would cost a minimum of €50,000. Unfortunately, this comes as a massive blow to Janice, who is four months pregnant and had worked hard to purchase the property. She had even changed careers to get mortgage approval on her own and had taken out a massive loan to refurbish it because it was in pretty bad condition when she bought it. Initially, she thought that renovating the house would make it liveable, and she would add the finishing touches over time.
Janice’s construction journey started in February 2022, and she had hoped to stay there before the end of the year. However, the back of the property and partly completed extension are completely exposed, and the ground floor ceiling is being dangerously propped up by a couple of bricks. She is now paying out €1,300 a month, which is split between the credit union loan repayments, her mortgage on the house, and rent she pays to her mom to stay in her spare room. She has no idea how to raise the extra €50,000 to complete the property, but she recently learned that she might be eligible for government grants.
Janice has nothing to show for her hard work, and the future looks bleak for her. The roof is held up by three bricks, with no supporting beams, and the whole roof can collapse if you stand up there. The house is completely open at the back, and the whole structure is in danger of falling apart. She has received numerous generous gestures from people offering to help her build it, and her friend has set up a campaign to ask for financial assistance.
Janice’s situation is a cautionary tale for anyone looking to invest in a property. It highlights the importance of carrying out thorough inspections and seeking expert advice before parting with your money. It also underscores the importance of understanding the magnitude of the job you are getting into, especially when renovating an old property. The cost of renovating a property can spiral out of control if not planned and executed methodically. But despite her situation, Janice remains hopeful that she’ll get to move into her dream home by Christmas.
In conclusion, the story of the pregnant Garda who must demolish most of her home despite investing a significant amount of money in renovations is a distressing one. This incident highlights the importance of thorough research and due diligence when purchasing a property. It also raises concerns about the responsibilities of developers and planning authorities to accurately disclose potential restrictions on properties. While it may be a difficult and stressful situation to endure, we hope that justice prevails for the pregnant Garda and her family. It is crucial that homeowners are empowered to protect themselves from such unfortunate circumstances, and that proper measures are taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
