Housing Estate Please Cut the Grass !

commodus

Hi Guys

What are the rights for home owners regarding the common areas of a housing estate in Roscommon ?

It was only just a few weeks ago the the developer here cut the grass since probably September 2008 after i made a number of complaints.
This is the first cut of the year and probably the last cut.
And it was a half arsed job too. There are still areas he hasn't done and what he has done so far is a right mess. It's more chopped then cut. It makes the estate look a right kip as the green areas are quite large so waist high grass looks pretty terrible. It would put anyone off thinking of renting there for a start.


I've been on the council, estate agents and no one seem to give a dam !


There is also a third phase of the estate in a right mess it's basically a massive building site tones bricks,iron,tiles and wood and cement scattered everywhere. It's been like this for the last 2 years. As the fencing is all knocked down anyone can get in there and i often see kids in there playing in large pipes etc.. surely this is a health and safety hazard.

The council told me the developer has 5 years to finish the phase or clean up the site. Yea right we all know that isn't going to happen. They said he may apply for another 5 years after the first 5. WFT :eek:why would they give him another 5 year planning if he hasn't done a tap of work on the estate in years nor would he have any plans to in this current environment.

Also there is only one way in and out of the estate. When i bought off the plans 3 years ago we where told there would be a back road too but this isn't going to happen now as it would mean having to go though the unfinished mess of the 3rd phase which he has abandoned.


What can i do to get him to

1 keep the current completed phase 1 and 2 estate grass cut. Surely he is under some law to keep it tidy. One grass cut a year is a disgrace. It's not asking much really. If he won't do it can the dam council not take it over then.

2 how can we get him to clean up the mess of a building site he's left behind as anyone can drive in there now and use it as an illegal dumping ground. I've already seen a few bits of illegal rubbish dumped there and kids shouldn't have access to an empty building site

As the land hasn't been taken over by the council they can't cut it and as the builder owns it non of the residents are allowed cut it or pay someone to do it so it's a catch 22 for us.

We are at complete mercy of a builder who doesn't give a dam anymore. He's made his money so what does he care now that the housing market is fecked.
There seems to be no laws for builders in this regard. They do what they want. Then when times are bad bye bye home owners nothing to do with me. He's still driving around in his merc saw he there only last month while we all have to suffer looking at mounds of crap on a mess of building site. He won't even pay someone to cut the bloody grass of the finished phases which are really nice when it is kept tidy.

The residents would go to a solicitor if we knew we had any rights on this?

:mad:!

Thanks

Paulw

commodus wrote: »

What can i do to get him to

1 keep the current completed phase 1 and 2 estate grass cut. Surely he is under some law to keep it tidy. One grass cut a year is a disgrace. It's not asking much really. If he won't do it can the dam council not take it over then.

2 how can we get him to clean up the mess of a building site he's left behind as anyone can drive in there now and use it as an illegal dumping ground. I've already seen a few bits of illegal rubbish dumped there and kids shouldn't have access to an empty building site

As the land hasn't been taken over by the council they can't cut it and as the builder owns it non of the residents are allowed cut it or pay someone to do it so it's a catch 22 for us.

There is nothing you can do (that I'm aware of) to force him to cut the grass.

The council will not take over any area until the development is completed as per the original planning permission.

I doubt there is any way you can get him to clean the mess either.

Why don't the residents just cut the grass or pay someone to cut the grass? Why do you say that the residents aren't allowed? Did you ask?

I'd say that the developer would love if the residents cut the grass - one less hassle for him.

commodus

Paulw wrote: »

There is nothing you can do (that I'm aware of) to force him to cut the grass.

The council will not take over any area until the development is completed as per the original planning permission.

I doubt there is any way you can get him to clean the mess either.

Why don't the residents just cut the grass or pay someone to cut the grass? Why do you say that the residents aren't allowed? Did you ask?

I'd say that the developer would love if the residents cut the grass - one less hassle for him.

Well when i rang the council and citizens advise center they said i wasn't allowed to cut the grass as it's still his land and his responsibility. Surely there must be a law that states that the developer at least maintains the completed estate to a certain standard before the council takes it over. At this rate the council will never take it over and he will no doubt probably apply for another 5 year extension on phase 3 so he doesn't have to clean up the building site or cut the grass as he can say he's still working on it. There are sewage holes on the building site too and mounds of sand 2 stores high. It will be to late when some kid falls off or into a hole. There is nothing stoping anyone from gaining easy access to the site infact you can drive into it.

Trojan911

Do you have a Residents Assoc that you could approach?

Victor

Safety - www.hsa.ie get together with your fellow residents, warn the children and put pressure on the HSA, builder, estate agent, council, etc. The counsil should have standards for building sites.

Litter - talk to the council litter warden.

Grass - get some quotes locally to have the grass cut another 2-3 times during the summer. Present them to the locals and see if ye can agree to go halves with the builder. Is the grass area safe to play on?

commodus

Victor wrote: »

Safety - www.hsa.ie get together with your fellow residents, warn the children and put pressure on the HSA, builder, estate agent, council, etc. The counsil should have standards for building sites.

Litter - talk to the council litter warden.

Grass - get some quotes locally to have the grass cut another 2-3 times during the summer. Present them to the locals and see if ye can agree to go halves with the builder. Is the grass area safe to play on?

Yea thanks for you help guys !! i'll just have to keep up the pressure on the council and get some type of a residents association together. I know a resident has already approached the builder to cut the grass for a small fee and he said NO so it looks like getting everyone together to pay a small contribution is the only way. !
Might be hard getting money out of people who are only renting there tho.

Looks like the builder is in the driving seat on the grass. There are no laws for this. Yea the green areas are great as soon as it was cut there were kids out playing on it. But i now know for certain he should have the other unfinished building sites secure so since he is being so awkward on the grass i'm going to make sure he has alot of hassle to face from the council for unsecured sites and environmental agency for allowing illegal dumbing on the site.

Thanks