Log Cabins in Ireland

Graham · 23-03-2019 10:07pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

To live in? As mentioned above, there was many a 50m2 2up/ 2down house built in this country that housed families far larger than the average now.

Not everyone needs or wants to live in the bloated mansions despoiling many parts of the country with their multiple ensuite bedrooms.

It helped that the 'toilet' was outside, the bath could hang on the wall when not in use and children could/would bunk up 3 or 4 to a mattress.

As a country, I'm glad standards have improved since then.

All rather academic anyway as there's no likelihood we'll be returning to 'the good old days'.

christy G · 24-02-2020 9:19pm

You see a lot of them up now and there is noway they have planning, as they know it will get refused and waste of time and money so people are just doing what they like now and hope for the best they dont get a letter from the council,

BanditLuke · 24-02-2020 9:22pm

christy G wrote: »

You see a lot of them up now and there is noway they have planning, as they know it will get refused and waste of time and money so people are just doing what they like now and hope for the best they dont get a letter from the council,

Can't blame them tbh. FG have failed us all on housing.

christy G · 27-02-2020 1:15pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

Can't blame them tbh. FG have failed us all on housing.

True but is it worth the risk , they could make you take it down and then you would still have to pay 30k back , if it Is a certain size i know they cant make you take it down only take out the bathroom and kitchen.

Ray Palmer · 27-02-2020 1:33pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

Can't blame them tbh. FG have failed us all on housing.

Did FG decide the building standards? Should they ignore technical advice and just do what the public would like?

I have no loyalty to any part but such petty point scoring that doesn't even make sense is something people have to get over. Building regulation are completely valid if you have an issue with them you should really state why they should be changed. This is not a political issue but a matter of health and safety.

Bluefoam · 28-02-2020 3:25pm

We built a log cabin about 25+ years ago... They are great, warm, efficient, homely etc... but the 100% do need planning permission.

One thing to note... In Finland the rain falls down from the sky, almost vertically. In ireland the rain lashes horizontally, this is not good when you have exposed edges of wood... Do with all that as you wish.

Pro's:
Nice
Warm
Cozy
Homely
Flexible Design
Cost Effective
Easily heated

Con's:
Irish weather
Irish weather

Idbatterim · 28-02-2020 3:45pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

Can't blame them tbh. FG have failed us all on housing.

I know a few people that put them up.You can have them up in a few days, whats the alternative? pay E1800 for a one bed minimum or live in house shares? many of them in total (but funnily enough) legal kips?

Spending 30k on them is ballsy enough though, its a risk reward thing. Four months back, one mate was quote 7k cash for 25 sq m one bed, built and insulated, included gutters. obviously not services.

Ray Palmer · 28-02-2020 4:35pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

I know a few people that put them up.You can have them up in a few days, whats the alternative? pay E1800 for a one bed minimum or live in house shares? many of them in total (but funnily enough) legal kips?

Spending 30k on them is ballsy enough though, its a risk reward thing. Four months back, one mate was quote 7k cash for 25 sq m one bed, built and insulated, included gutters. obviously not services.

The alternative is to build to current code that you are legally required to do. You might get away with it for a while but it will never get an exemption.

Idbatterim · 28-02-2020 5:57pm

Ray Palmer wrote: »

The alternative is to build to current code that you are legally required to do. You might get away with it for a while but it will never get an exemption.

ok and if you cant afford to do that? Stay in a **** situation? The current taxes and standards, price many out of options. It creates a far bigger problem, than it solves IMO.

Idbatterim · 28-02-2020 5:58pm

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Did FG decide the building standards? Should they ignore technical advice and just do what the public would like?

I have no loyalty to any part but such petty point scoring that doesn't even make sense is something people have to get over. Building regulation are completely valid if you have an issue with them you should really state why they should be changed. This is not a political issue but a matter of health and safety.

the government cream off a lot of the cost of a new build. Should standards be changed? look, I agree with them being very well insulated etc. But with apartments for example, the dual aspect requirement, ads significantly to the cost. You are asking people to shop in m and s on an aldi budget. That is the issue.

christy G · 28-02-2020 6:35pm

just wondering if anyone here has built one did you try get planning permission or just go ahead and get it built?

I'm looking at building a logcabin or 1 bedroom flat made out of brick, my neighbour built an extension out there back so I dont see the point in telling them before I get it done . And my neighbour at the end of my road has a 3 bed logcabin which they got built last year no problem with the other neighbours .

Gumbo · 28-02-2020 6:35pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

the government cream off a lot of the cost of a new build. Should standards be changed? look, I agree with them being very well insulated etc. But with apartments for example, the dual aspect requirement, ads significantly to the cost. You are asking people to shop in m and s on an aldi budget. That is the issue.

Dual aspect requirement has been gone a while now.
It’s obviously still a bonus but I don’t think it’s a requirement.

christy G · 28-02-2020 6:38pm

just wondering if anyone here has built one did you try get planning permission or just go ahead and get it built?

I'm looking at building a logcabin or 1 bedroom flat made out of brick, my neighbour built an extension out there back so I dont see the point in telling them before I get it done . And my neighbour at the end of my road has a 3 bed logcabin which they got built last year no problem with the other neighbours .

Idbatterim · 28-02-2020 6:43pm

Gumbo wrote: »

Dual aspect requirement has been gone a while now.
It’s obviously still a bonus but I don’t think it’s a requirement.

I think its just gone for some apartments depending on their aspect, should be abolished entirely IMO...

christy G · 01-03-2020 12:46pm

<SNIP>

Graham · 01-03-2020 12:55pm

Mod Note

christy_G this is not the place to ask if you can get away with ignoring the planning laws. Please read the forum charter and Boards terms of use.

All; do not post Material that promotes or encourages illegal activity.

Thanks

Ash.J.Williams · 01-03-2020 1:04pm

notharrypotter wrote: »

Fascinating to see that you consider the laws of the land bull****.

As a result of this law we have thousands of “illegal” dwellings

Dickie10 · 08-05-2020 1:58pm

a lot of people around me putting up log cabins that are kind of bought flat pack and put together on site. none of these have planning permission is this ok to do?

sydthebeat · 08-05-2020 2:14pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

. none of these have planning permission is this ok to do?

i think youve answered your own question here

Claw Hammer · 08-05-2020 2:30pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

a lot of people around me putting up log cabins that are kind of bought flat pack and put together on site. none of these have planning permission is this ok to do?

It depends on a few things. they might be exempt. It depends on what they are being used for. they might be ok used as a store or man cave etc but not as a dwelling. Even at that there are requirements as to size and footprint.

Dickie10 · 08-05-2020 7:28pm

this one beside me is a two bedroom fairly big the guy plans on renting it out as a home, he already has one built and rented out for 11 years beside it. thinking of putting one up myself and renting it out. he said 30k would have it almost rentable

L1011 · 08-05-2020 7:31pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

this one beside me is a two bedroom fairly big the guy plans on renting it out as a home, he already has one built and rented out for 11 years beside it. thinking of putting one up myself and renting it out. he said 30k would have it almost rentable

They are not exempt from planning and someone else getting away with it doesn't mean you will.

Gumbo · 08-05-2020 7:34pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

a lot of people around me putting up log cabins that are kind of bought flat pack and put together on site. none of these have planning permission is this ok to do?

The are glorified garden sheds. As long as the meet the exemptions for garden sheds they are fine. If they are being used for habitable purposes then they are in breach of the planning and development act and illegal.

zac8 · 08-05-2020 8:27pm

Gumbo wrote: »

The are glorified garden sheds. As long as the meet the exemptions for garden sheds they are fine. If they are being used for habitable purposes then they are in breach of the planning and development act and illegal.

Whats the chances of the law being enforced though? Especially with the current housing crisis. A neighbour of mine has one that somebody is living in and I know of two others nearby.

L1011 · 08-05-2020 8:33pm

zac8 wrote: »

Whats the chances of the law being enforced though? Especially with the current housing crisis. A neighbour of mine has one that somebody is living in and I know of two others nearby.

High, if someone puts in the right complaints. Unauthorised development, building standards (they can't meet them) and/or rental standards (they won't meet them) if rented.

Most getting away with it cases are because nobody has made an official complaint and there is no casual enforcement of most of those rules.

endacl · 08-05-2020 8:34pm

All it takes is somebody to query it to the local authority and the sheds are gone at the owner’s expense, along with the rental income and the homes of the people who had been paying it.

Is that loop one of the topic completed. We can just start going around again?

L1011 · 08-05-2020 8:35pm

endacl wrote: »

All it takes is somebody to query it to the local authority and the sheds are gone at the owner’s expense, along with the rental income and the homes of the people who had been paying it.

Is that loop one of the topic completed. We can just start going around again?

Thread is 16 months old - I suspect we're on loop five or six!

banie01 · 08-05-2020 8:39pm

L1011 wrote: »

Most getting away with it cases are because nobody has made an official complaint and there is no casual enforcement of most of those rules.

Agree with this.
Enforcement is very lax in Ireland.
Enforcement would be far simpler if the suppliers of the log/steel/fast erect kits were directed to seek sight of planning before selling anything over 25sq mtrs.

That's not going to happen, and indeed many of the suppliers will offer "compliance" advice that's skirting the law and leading to many believing they can live in their sheds.

Dickie10 · 08-05-2020 10:17pm

lads these are not sheds , there fully finished two decentish bedrooms,living area, small kitchen, small bathroom and hot press. same as a two bed apartment pretty much exactly like that. i heard if its up and lived in over 7 years, theres nothing council can do. He has his first rented about 9 years now

Graham · 08-05-2020 10:28pm

Mod Note

folks if you want to discuss ignoring the planning laws, take it somewhere else.

Caranica · 08-05-2020 10:32pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

lads these are not sheds , there fully finished two decentish bedrooms,living area, small kitchen, small bathroom and hot press. same as a two bed apartment pretty much exactly like that. i heard if its up and lived in over 7 years, theres nothing council can do. He has his first rented about 9 years now

Regardless they are not legal for habitation, without planning permission, as it stands. 30k is a lot to gamble. Enforcement crackdowns are an essential part of planning law.

L1011 · 08-05-2020 11:28pm

Dickie10 wrote: »

lads these are not sheds , there fully finished two decentish bedrooms,living area, small kitchen, small bathroom and hot press. same as a two bed apartment pretty much exactly like that. i heard if its up and lived in over 7 years, theres nothing council can do. He has his first rented about 9 years now

The council may not be able to enforce planning at that stage, but they can absolutely fail it on rental standards. They do not meet building regulations either

Empty_Space · 09-05-2020 10:24am

I've had one for years without issue. Don't mind the negative people on here.
Show me one case of one being ripped down. Will be in for war if coming near me.

Mod Note.

Do not promote illegal activity in this forum.
Consider this an on thread warning.

The bottom line is that the use of these structures without planning is illegal.
There are many examples of people having to vacate them, and not only that, because they choose to fight the system, they are also hit with the legal costs.

Telling people to ignore the law is all well and good from behind a keyboard.

Check out courts.ie or send an FOI to Dublin City Council or another authority.

Empty_Space · 09-05-2020 10:49am

Empty_Space wrote: »

I've had one for years without issue. Don't mind the negative people on here.
Show me one case of one being ripped down. Will be in for war if coming near me.

Mod Note.

Do not promote illegal activity in this forum.
Consider this an on thread warning.

The bottom line is that the use of these structures without planning is illegal.
There are many examples of people having to vacate them, and not only that, because they choose to fight the system, they are also hit with the legal costs.

Telling people to ignore the law is all well and good from behind a keyboard.

Check out courts.ie or send an FOI to Dublin City Council or another authority.

You are missing the point entirely.

I'm not doing anything illegal. There are easy ways around a controlling gov, your property, your decision.

Graham · 09-05-2020 10:59am

Mod Note

there will be no further warnings. Suggestion that planning laws can be ignored will result in an instant ban.

Do not reply to this post.

Plumbthedepths · 09-05-2020 12:51pm

Empty_Space wrote: »

You are missing the point entirely.

I'm not doing anything illegal. There are easy ways around a controlling gov, your property, your decision.

Freeman of the land rubbish.

AoifeBrid55 · 09-06-2021 11:11am

I would love to hear more positive stories of people who managed to successfully get a log cabin in Ireland and still have it

L1011 · 09-06-2021 11:12am

AoifeBrid55 wrote: »

I would love to hear more positive stories of people who managed to successfully get a log cabin in Ireland and still have it

There aren't going to be any, basically.

By the time you get planning permission, its a house with all its coss, not a cheap log cabin anymore.

Tacitus Kilgore · 09-06-2021 11:24am

AoifeBrid55 wrote: »

I would love to hear more positive stories of people who managed to successfully get a log cabin in Ireland and still have it

You won't hear their stories on here but there are hundreds, if not - thousands of them.

crossmolinalad · 09-06-2021 11:26am

L1011 wrote: »

They are not exempt from planning and someone else getting away with it doesn't mean you will.

Had a hollyday in Cavan 2 years ago at a hollydaypark full of them
Google logcabins in Ireland and you will be surprized how many there out there to been build as a home

tritriagain · 09-06-2021 11:28am

L1011 wrote: »

There aren't going to be any, basically.

By the time you get planning permission, its a house with all its coss, not a cheap log cabin anymore.

There are plenty but they won't shout about it cos they don't want to draw attention to themselves. I know 2 couples living in them for 5 years plus and are getting on great.

runawaybishop · 09-06-2021 11:29am

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Had a hollyday in Cavan 2 years ago at a hollydaypark full of them
Google logcabins in Ireland and you will be surprized how many there out there to been build as a home

I don't think anyone is surprised that a lot of people ignore planning regulations!

Dempo1 · 09-06-2021 11:30am

I've spoken to numerous people in my locality (Laois) and all have been refused per to errect log cabins on fully serviced sites with full planning (for standard) build. For some reason, local authorities have become very anti log cabin. I get safety concerns but surely with a housing shortage and cabins a fraction of build cost, it just seems very odd.

TheMilkyPirate · 09-06-2021 11:35am

AoifeBrid55 wrote: »

I would love to hear more positive stories of people who managed to successfully get a log cabin in Ireland and still have it

There are plenty but you won't hear them on here unfortunately. Do whatever you think yourself, boards will never allow discussion on getting away with it even though you will.

L1011 · 09-06-2021 1:30pm

crossmolinalad wrote: »

Had a hollyday in Cavan 2 years ago at a hollydaypark full of them
Google logcabins in Ireland and you will be surprized how many there out there to been build as a home

Holiday accommodation has different planning requirements.

People breaking the law to build them illegally is not a subject for this forum.

If this thread continues to be 'you'll get away with it' style posts, it'll be closed and never come back

endacl · 09-06-2021 1:58pm

AoifeBrid55 wrote: »

I would love to hear more positive stories of people who managed to successfully get a log cabin in Ireland and still have it

Loads of people do. The use them as garden rooms, home offices…

sydthebeat · 09-06-2021 2:03pm

Dempo1 wrote: »

I've spoken to numerous people in my locality (Laois) and all have been refused per to errect log cabins on fully serviced sites with full planning (for standard) build. For some reason, local authorities have become very anti log cabin trailer park. I get safety concerns but surely with a housing shortage and cabins a fraction of build cost, it just seems very odd.

fixed your post for you

we do not want /aspire to / need trailer parks in ireland

09-06-2021 8:17pm

It's a long thread, so apologies if it's been discussed, but can anyone tell my why planning would be an issue in the first place?

I suppose what I'm confused about is, at what point does a garden shed become a log cabin? or is it nothing to do with size/style and more just to do with the intended use (presumably wanting to live in it)?

runawaybishop · 09-06-2021 8:28pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It's a long thread, so apologies if it's been discussed, but can anyone tell my why planning would be an issue in the first place?

I suppose what I'm confused about is, at what point does a garden shed become a log cabin? or is it nothing to do with size/style and more just to do with the intended use (presumably wanting to live in it)?

If you sleep in it, it needs planning basically. The reason they don't get planning is they don't meet building regs, and to bring them up to regs it would just be cheaper to build traditionally.

sydthebeat · 09-06-2021 9:43pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It's a long thread, so apologies if it's been discussed, but can anyone tell my why planning would be an issue in the first place?

I suppose what I'm confused about is, at what point does a garden shed become a log cabin? or is it nothing to do with size/style and more just to do with the intended use (presumably wanting to live in it)?

Its absolutely everything to do with use.

Log Cabins in Ireland

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