HomeCheck experts provide their opinion on topical issues and common queries related to residential properties in Ireland.
The “Seller’s Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021” is a proposed law aimed at improving the home buying and selling process by introducing a Seller’s Legal Pack that must be made available up front when a property is put on the market. It is due to be debated in the Dáil in September 2023….
What if you bought a house in an estate, and one day you woke up to find all the sewers were backing up, and nobody had the responsibility or right to fix it? “Taking in Charge” is the process of requesting the local authority to assume responsibility for essential services within a housing estate once…
Picking up after Storm Éowyn As a Galway based company, we’ve just come through a pretty hairy experience with Storm Éowyn, and have, in the last couple of days getting to grips with the extent of the damage. Common consensus is that this storm was like nothing anyone had ever experienced here before, and the…
We are selling our property and had an internal wall removed. Our solicitor has told us we need a cert of compliance. An internal wall being removed is common practice, but also poses difficulties when it comes to certifying compliance at a later date. From a planning persepective, there is usual no issue. An internal…
What paperwork do I need to sell my home in Ireland? In almost all cases the minimum required documentation consists of an up-to-date version of the following: How long will it take to complete the sale? The average home sale in Ireland take 16 weeks, but this can be reduced to 6-8 weeks if the…
When embarking on the exciting journey of buying a home, especially in the charming and sought-after neighbourhoods of Ireland, it’s crucial to look beyond the surface. At HomeCheck, we understand that purchasing a home, particularly an older one inevitably requiring repairs and upkeep, involves more than meets the eye. Older homes often carry a certain…
The “Mica Crisis” in Donegal, Ireland, is a term that refers to the structural damage observed in thousands of homes built with concrete blocks that contain high levels of mica. This issue has affected not only private residences but also commercial and public buildings, including schools, libraries, hospitals, and government buildings. The severity of the…
There are a number of terms that solicitors may use when discussing the land or site, rather than the building when it comes to buying and selling houses. Here’s a brief explanation of what some of these terms mean. Land Registry Map The Property Registration Authority maintains the Irish Land Registry. This is a centralised…
We are actively looking to buy a home, but we are having difficulty finding the perfect layout to suit our family needs. Do all alterations to houses require planning permission? There are many alterations which you can make to a property which do not require planning permission. You can carry out any internal alteration you…
Have you been considering investing in a vacant property and refurbishing it? If so, you may be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. This grant is available to homebuyers who are looking to live in a refurbished property. The maximum amount available is €70,000. In this blog post, we’ll explain what this scheme is…