Affordable housing Dunlaoghaire Rathdown-Parkview, Belarmine & Thornwood

Hey Guys

Just to let you know that I'm pretty sure that the only reason there was people queueing up for the BSQ ones was cos they were a direct sale through Sherry Fitz/Landmark. Parkview / Belarmine etc are a sale through the council so it will be structured differently and your choice will be determined by your place on the list. BSQ was on a first come first serve basis. Dont think you'll have to worry about queueing up!!

Right. Interesting day! I went up early and got a ticket for first in the queue. I was well prepared and had measured up some spaces at home like my bedroom I'm currently renting an apartment with relatively small double bedrooms but have been there for 4 years and its very comfortable to live in so although big bedrooms would be nice, I know at least the size of mine is workable and comfortable.

So, there were duplexes available and a couple of the smaller single floor ones with a balcony off the living space. We went in with the measuring tape and saw the single floor one first. It turned out that both bedrooms are bigger than my current bedroom so that made me a lot happier about the whole situation! Then we had a look at the duplexes. Nice bedrooms with balconies, really liked the stairs and the space around that and liked the longer kitchen space. However......there were none left with cubes off the living space, just balcony or nothing. We felt that the living space was really narrow....as reported already so it was a weigh up. Interestingly enough, the floor area of a duplex living area with a cube is about the same as the floor area of the living space on its own in the single floor apts.

So, the decision was to decide between the bigger bedrooms in the duplex or the bigger living area plus balcony in the single floor (with smaller kitchen). On balance with what was available to me I went for the single floor one. For me, the living space was more important than bigger bedrooms. Especially as I knew in advance that the bedrooms aren't actually that bad as I'm in an even smaller one at the moment and am happy with it. In my current room, I have a double bed, two bedside lockers, built in wardrobes, a bookcase and a cd tower. Its arranged to fit the room and as I said, its not huge but it is comfortable and I like it so I think I'm happy enough. I'd prefer the bigger single floor apt but unfortunatly there were none available to me.

I think I'm happy enough with it when you consider all the different things. Its on the 6th floor.

The Market value that the council is quoting for a two bed is very high. Close to €600k. If you are buying can you please email beaconunit8@gmail.com

A number of us will be putting pressure on the council and landmark to get this market value reduced and feel we are in a stronger position if we do it together. Together we're paying over 22 million so they can't ignore our concerns if we do it as a group

jez,

don't forget number 90 on a list is really number 270, theres 3 lists and they work of each list at the same house.

ted1 said:

jez,

don't forget number 90 on a list is really number 270, theres 3 lists and they work of each list at the same house.

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also depends on if they're building a development in your ward or not. but at the same time they're only interviewing people who will get a property in 6-12 months or so.

Thanks guys it's really helpful to get all the info I can. DLRD have just told me I may or may not get offered a unit in Parview/Belarmine. It's hard to plan anything not knowing how long it could potentially be. When I was assessed in October the 3 developments they talked to me about were BSQ, Parkview and Belarmine so I figured they thought I may reach my place on the list for one of these. Or maybe they were just keeping me happy?!!

There is no way in the world the apartments are worth 600k... the would be closer to 400k. has anyone had an independant valuation? also have he council confirmed this Mk value ok 600K in writing?

They've said over the phone that the market value for a duplex is €575k.

This seems to be based on what their asking price would have been if the property market was still booming. It has no basis in reality!

Please email beaconunit8@gmail.com if you're buying and we'll try to get this reduced

I emailed that address. that's not on. A national paper asked me to do an article on buying the apartment. If this is what they are trying to do i will happily pull out and tell the journalist exactly what happened.... 575 is a scam!

Blueishfairy, you should hint to the council that there are articles being written in the papers about the whole process I wonder what sort of valuation they are putting on the other types of apts!

Actually the independent valuation I got done came in bang on the valuation by Landmark much to my disappointment - think I might get another independent one!

Are the rooms in the duplexes not smaller than the single floor 2-beds? 575k compared with 520k.......................thats one expensive stairs!

The bedrooms are a bit bigger and the kitchen area is longer than the small single floor ones. Something I hadn't thought of at first, don't forget, the valuation will be for both the apartment and also a parking space rather than the apt on its own............although the various websites for an apt with a parking space still seem to be a bit cheaper. On the up side though, our parking spaces are under our building so you can go from car to lift. I don't think all the blocks are like that.

The mortgage evaluation doesn't include the parking space though

Really? Interesting! Is that the same for the council valuation? If we were buying privately would a car park space come with the apt automatically?

The council valuation includes the parking space - as its the value declared by Landmark as if they were selling them right now (though at 2006 prices!). The independent valuation was 20K less, but since parking spaces are for sale as an option at 25K it makes it the same price.

jez said:

Hey,

I'm on the DLRD list since April. Waiting for something in Parkview/Belarmine hopefully. Just wondering if anyone knows when the council are starting viewings. They are fairly vague on the phone!..


Thank you!

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Jez

I was speaking to the council last week and the viewing list is ready. They've a couple of places left in BSQ to sort out and once they're done they're going to start viewing the others! Hopefully will be soon enough I reckon!

Does anyone know which blocks in ParkView are the affordable housing ones? I've heard there are three.....

Hi all,

Forum's gone quiet Anyone heard from DLR with their official offer since the viewings?

Hi all

Does anyone know if there is any way of negotiating with the council about the apartments you've seen? I saw beautiful ones today but i wasn't too keen on the block they were in. Can you ask for ones a couple of blocks down or is that considered a refusal? Are you entitled to ask to see more in the same development?