Ard Branagh, Portlaoise

First Time Buyer

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has bought or is thinking of buying in Ard Branagh in Portlaoise?

y0ssar1an22

i think kilminchy in general is a nice area. kilminchy village has a shop, pub, few takeaways, pharmacy, etc. think there used be a gael scoil in there?

cant speak for that specific estate though

Hesh's Umpire

Kilminchy is grand. Best side of town when it comes to the new estates. Not bad for buses either.

nadiemcgoo

Hi, we have bought there. Have you?

LiamProperty1

Hi, I have put down a booking deposit and paid full deposit in early 2021 for a new build in Phase 3 of Ard Branagh. There has been no progression on my property since last summer. Very hard to find information about what is going on with regards to the site. Had a completion date of late 2021 but that has well passed and no progression since. Site looks to be locked somedays with no builders. Has anyone any information on what is going on, or is anyone in the same boat?

juanmoretime

Hey we’re in the same boat as you. I wish I had any positive news for you. We paid a deposit last year and our HTB was claimed as a deposit in under 30 minutes when we gave them the access codes. We were originally told November 2021 then January 2022. I visited our house in late February and the amount of work done between our visit in October and the one in February was maybe 2 weeks work max. Also found anytime we called in there was no one working on the site which is madness since there are so many houses only up to one floor etc. I put a post in a first time buyers Facebook group similar to you looking for others in the same boat. Anyone who dm’d me said the communication has been appalling and no expected completion dates were met. Our solicitor has reached out to the developer’s one but has gotten no response but they were very quick to threaten to put it back on the market when minor details were queried in the contract. Also I reached out to a county councillor to contact the developer directly as they previously had a business relationship but his calls have been ignored.

LiamProperty1

Has anyone heard any update on completion dates? Still no progression on final phase of the development since August 2021? Any information would be kindly appreciated?

mcenery

I don’t know where this is going for ye folks! It’s terrible carry on

my daughter Katie bought no 20. Moved in a few weeks ago. Few of the houses have electrical issues

sockets falling off the wall

smoke alarm went on fire in one house

the garden is a mud bath, it seems all the new row are the same, the recent ones just finished. A slap dash approach, a bit of topsoil on top of hard compacted ground not rotavated. It can only be described as emotional and mental abuse and stress and loss of income to all purchasers. Builder doesn’t care, won’t answer phone

Auctioneer keeps promising the Sun Moon and Stars with mis leading updates and mis information

the whole thing stinks

i can see ye all on Prime Time Investigates yet!!

mcenery

There’s strength in numbers

keep at it. Bullying should not be tolerated! Surely protection can be sought legally by a unified group to protect your interests, your contract rights?? It can’t be simply a case of put up and shut up or we pull from you, right?

LiamProperty1

It’s disgraceful at this point, promised completion of November 21, then March 22, then May 22. Still no progression since August 21. Asked Auctioneer last week when he thinks it will be ready and they couldn’t give a definite date. Its nearly 2023 now.

Auctioneers are poor to communicate the truth about what’s going on and pass the blame off on the builder.

They just want people to pull out so they can resell contracts at an increased price. This is why they are delaying it to frustrate people so they will pull out.

Its also frustrating on people who have bought houses and drawn down mortgages to look at a building site across from them incomplete and left wondering if it ever will be completed. Did anyone hear of any updates from Auctioneer, Builder, etc?

Eireplane

History repeating itself, massive demand for houses, shortage of builders etc, building laws laxed to accommodate.

Thebusternick

We are in the same situation. Saw the property first time In November 21' and went to see it now in November 22' and literally nothing has been done in a year. First promise was march 22 and than September/October 22? And last time I spoke to the agent he didn't know what's going on.

Eireplane

If you drive around Portlaoise, you can see sneaky little sighs advertising Ard Branagh still, reeks of gazumping.

bofination

@LiamProperty1

Latest timeframe I have from their solicitor is January, 2023. I haven't been to the development in a while but I doubt anything will be completed before next summer. We had been going from one temp accommodation to the next because we were trusting their timelines but we gave up on that after about the third missed deadline, so we signed into a 12 month lease in April that we will more than likely be extending.

It'a worrying to read about dodgy electrics and poor garden drainage. I have heard from other people that they are happy with the quality of the build but that was from an earlier phase. Although having said that, I have friends who have bought in developments elsewhere and I don't think there has been one without its issues.

I hope none of you are in a situation where you have to pull out of your contracts because of the delays.

nadiemcgoo

We bought a house in the first phase and moved in last year. We have had nothing but issues. Building has stopped. Noone on site the last year. They have gone through 4 foremen and now there isnt one. Cheap fixings used leading to our 3rd leak in a year and no contact from developer. They arent answering calls and he keeps knocking me off. Issues in our home for the last year and a half as have our neighbours.

bofination

@nadiemcgoo That's terrible, I'm really sorry to hear that - although its not surprising given how much of a shambles the whole thing has been. Are the neighbours having problems with leaks also or are other things popping up?

smccarthy

@nadiemcgoo, sorry to hear. I am looking for a place near portloaise.

Where have your three leaks been?

where was the cheap fixing used?

what other issues has you had?

nadiemcgoo

One leak in kitchen and 2 from tank in attic now. Plumber said flimsy plastic washers used that couldnt hold the pressure of the tank. Broke and leaked through electrics in bathroom and into out bedroom. Second time it has happened. Door handles falling off. Window sills haven't been painted. Doors need shaving and wont open. Units in bathroom have warped. Cracks in wood on every step of the stairs. Stains on living room ceiling from water leaks from bath that isnt sealed properly. Uneven floors. Cracks in internal window sills. 2 neighbours i know of have had the same leak from attic. There is no building going on at the moment at all onsite and there hasnt been all year so for any of you that have been told otherwise its crap. Spoke to co.co today and the finance comoany who funded the developer who said they have had numberous complaints. Kitchen fitter from first phase is still owed thousands too. Its a joke. And the estate agent is as bad as the developer.

smccarthy

you poor thing, I hope it get fixed asap. but you surely can't blame your estate agent???

nadiemcgoo

The estate agent is a con artist who promised the world when we were moving in. Lied multiple times and assured us snag list would be completed, it still isnt. He upped the price of houses in the estate on houses our friends had already paid deposits on, leaving them unable to purchase. Hes still lying to current buyers and is having a open house this weekend for more houses in the estate that haven't begun yet, even though all of our houses are left in ****. So yes, i can blame him.

smccarthy

housing market is desperately hard now, sad to see taking advantage, thanks for been so honest & tranparent with me

Eireplane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119883780#Comment_119883780

Hi, do you know what time is the open house this weekend? I presume it's on Saturday.

Eireplane

Did you not see a lot of those problems during snagging?

nadiemcgoo

Yes a lot of issues were seen during snagging but they delayed us all by months and mortgage approval was due to run out so we moved in and were told these issues would be fixed. Also further issues arose after moving in. No idea what time, but yes its Saturday. You could try ringing estate agent office to find out the time.

LiamProperty1

All the open house events I have been to in Ard Branagh are on Saturday mornings from half 10 onwards.

Eireplane

I understand, I hope most of the issues are minor and wish you all the best.

Thebusternick

We spoke to our solicitor and were told by the contract they have 18 months from the signing of contract to complete all the works that would take us to November 2023. Estate agent also has very poor communication with the builders either giving false dates or not knowing what is going on. One more thing we were told is that they are doing houses in batches so they won't start on our line of houses until they sell the next batch.

juanmoretime

We were promised a completion of November 2021 also and then April 2022. We were allowed to send someone to snag 1st July and here we are a week from Christmas still waiting on items on the snag list to be done because since July there’s been water getting through the attic and causing water damage to one bedroom.

Communication from estate agent has been nothing but smoke and mirrors. Our solicitor refused to allow us to close the sale as there was no development bond in place just a promise to pay the council eventually and the bank’s legal department wanted evidence that the county council agreed to this “arrangement”. Apparently an enforcement notice was issued and the builder paid the first instalment of 200k with the rest due in June 2023. When we got into the house in November to review the snag items EA said that the builder had found some loophole to push people out of the contracts for the houses opposite our phase. So there’s definitely truth in them trying to get an increased price. CH said he wouldn’t be advertising those ones for sale until they are nearer completion because it’s not worth all the hassle of missing deadlines.

We’ve drawn down our mortgage to avoid a rate increase but have asked the solicitor to hold it until we’re satisfied with the snag items being done. Although judging by all the comments on this forum we should expect a lot of issues with plugs and leaks.

Eireplane

Ard Branagh is a 10 year project, mark my words.

LiamProperty1

Any updates on completion dates anyone?

bofination

Nothing, judging by recent progress I'm hoping they may be ready before Christmas but who knows at this stage.

paula13

Hi all, I felt the need to share our experience with this development in the hope that it’ll deter anyone who is considering to purchase a house in Ard Branagh. We first viewed Ard Branagh in March 21, we loved the lay out and size of the house and were so excited to get in in Sept 21!! After signing contracts we had LOADS of contact from the estate agent looking for our help to buy details! Once he got that it was us doing the chasing! We were in contact with the estate agent and the woman who was working in the office on site weekly for updates and were filled with lies for 2 years!! It’s now April 23 and the house we bought has yet to be started! I drive past the estate every day going to work and there is never any workers on sight! It was so disheartening, especially as we sit checking daft and see house prices sky rocket! We thought once the 18 months were up on our contract we may be able to get some compensation for the breech in contract and the 2 years of rent but unfortunately our solicitor advised us if we can get our deposit back, to take it and run as the costs of bringing them to court could be huge! We have now pulled out of the sale and want to close this chapter and move on. Not surprisingly the builder has yet to refund the help to buy to revenue so that is now outstanding, which will impact if we try to buy another new build. To say our hearts are broken from this whole experience is an understatement and for anyone considering buying here please reconsider because these horrible people do not deserve your money.

maeve..

Hey how are you , iv bought in Ard Branagh too , iv had a leak in my kitchen . Also my door handles have came off in the bathroom and bedroom and told them said nothing they can do , also my door bell box nearly caught on fire, rang them they said it was out or warranty as it was installed over a year ago even though we were only on the house 6 months .

Eireplane

Hi, did you rush the snagging stage by any chance?

maeve..

Hey no it wasn’t rushed . We had the snag done and only a few bits were completed

Eireplane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120634667#Comment_120634667

Maybe your house insurance might cover the door bell box, looks like they are getting away with murder, only for so long I suppose.

Thebusternick

Hello, I have sent an email to the housing minister and Portlaoise city council urging them to something about Ard Branagh and I would advise everyone that is buying to the same to put some pressure to get this moving.

Here are the emails:

minister@housing.gov.ie

corpaffairs@laoiscoco.ie

Eireplane

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120729968#Comment_120729968

Also, I think the local and national newspapers need to be made aware of this as a matter of public interest. It really is a scam. Absolute con artistry.

Eireplane

I recommend this advice to anybody caught up in this racket.

1; don't pull out, that's their game.

2; Begin legal action.

3; Expose this building company and real estate agent by leaving reviews online and telling all the newspapers.

LiamProperty1

What is the actual name of the building company?

mcenery

Branagh Homes Ltd

not

Exhibitside Ltd anymore?? Don’t know why….

Eireplane

Same crowd running both.