Spencer Dock tenants face eviction over building defects

Tenants at almost 40 apartments in a high-end residential block in Dublin city centre could face their tenancies being terminated due to remedial works needed to tackle ongoing defect issues at the development.

According to a letter sent to residents at Spencer Dock in Dublin’s financial centre, tenants have been told that apartments “will need to be vacant to facilitate the works and that the works will take a number of months”.

“It is unlikely that the apartments will be available to re-occupy following the works,” according to the letter. “We are informing you of this as a courtesy so that you are aware at the earliest available opportunity of the future plans for the apartment,” the letter states, adding that “at this time we cannot commit to offering continued occupation to the apartment beyond your statutory notice period”.

The letter was sent to 39 residents by Savills, which manages the apartments on behalf of EY, a receiver put in over the assets of a company linked to the original developer.

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Asked about what would happen to the apartments after the repairs were completed, a spokesperson for the receivers said that “it is not known at this stage whether the apartments will be sold or made available for rent following the works”.

Silicon docks

The apartments, which are located close to the Central Bank, IFSC and silicon docks, can retail for up to €4,500 a month for a two-bed unit, according to a listing which was live on Daft.ie last week, which bills the property as "only minutes walk from Google, Facebook, etc".

The letter, which was sent late last year, relates to “potential defects in the window frames of the apartments”. It is understood that water ingress has been detected around the frames.

The letter also makes clear that if tenants wish to alter the terms of their tenancy, they will not be allowed to do so. “Should you wish to assign your lease or amend any tenants in the apartment we regret that we will be unable to consent to any assignments and, as such, should you wish to replace any tenants within the apartment we will require you to continue with a smaller number of occupiers or vacate the apartment”.

Boomtime

The original development was completed in 2007 by Treasury Holdings, the boomtime development company run by builders Johnny Ronan and Richard Barrett. Mr Ronan said he had no comment when contacted.

The building company Sisk was involved in the construction of the project. It had no comment on Spencer Dock specifically when contacted, saying that it was "Ireland's leading construction company and we stand over the quality of our work on all our projects".

Several quantity surveyors' reports have reportedly discovered issues with windows, balconies, leaks and fire alarms at the development. There are a total of 612 units in the development.

A spokeswoman for the receivers said that they were “still considering the nature and extent of any works required and intend to keep all tenants fully up to date as to the proposed timing of any works”.

The spokeswoman confirmed that the residents in the apartments could ultimately be forced to leave their homes. “If required, all affected tenants will be given the required statutory notice to vacate the units,” she said.