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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Roisin Cullen

Dublin couple face 'nightmare situation' after all tenants of apartment block served with eviction notices

All 35 residents of a Dublin apartment block were served with eviction notices this week due to their landlord selling the property.

James O'Toole had been living in Tathony House on Bow Lane D8 for over 13 years. He told Dublin Live he grew up in the area and is devastated to have to leave his home.

Images of long queues outside housing viewings are constantly playing on his mind as he worries he may not be able to find anything near his place of work due to the housing crisis.

Read more: Renters outraged by 'overcrowded' shared room with three bunkbeds in Dublin city centre

James said: "I've been here since 2009. There are 35 apartments. All the tenants were given an eviction notice, a six page document saying that the place would be sold and the tenants had until a certain date to leave.

"I'm here since 2009 so I have to get 224 days notice because I'm here long term. Some of the other tenants will get different dates depending on how long they are here. It's a shock for everyone.

"He [the landlord] is selling the entire block. It's a shock. We are all seeing the pictures of queues outside apartments and the state of the rental market at the moment. Whether it's now or on June 2, I don't think the rental market is going to have changed by then.

"You are still leading into the same nightmare situation where you might be queueing with 200 people for a flat that you can't afford anyway. There's no security. I am from Fatima Mansion Flats in Dublin 8 and I've always lived in this area. My friends, family, all of my community connections are in this area. There is no way I am going to find a one bedroom flat in this area next June. I'm a community worker. There is nothing in this area I can afford.

"I am going to have to move miles out. It's just going to add to the cost of travelling into work because I work in town. I am from this community and I like this community.

"I like the smell of the Guinness. Seeing the Guinness factory reminds me of walks with my grandad when I was kid. This is the area where all my memories are. I just like being close to this area. Like anyone, you just get a good feeling when you go home.

"When you're selling more than 10 flats in one go, the Tyrellstown clause is supposed to kick it. It means the landlord selling it can sell it while the tenants are in situ. My landlord is claiming that he is exempt from the Tyrellstown thing because it would cause him hardship to sell while the tenants are in situ."

James' wife, Cllr Madeleine Johansson said: "I understand that he's selling the whole building because everyone got a notice. We have been here a long time and lots of people have been here the same amount of time. It's not great.

"I usually have people contacting me all the time about these kinds of issues. Now, the rental market is so bad that people just can't find anywhere else. Everyone knows how mad it is out there. People on lower incomes just can't afford to pay their rent. It's not possible. Both me and my husband work in Dublin so what are we supposed to do. I don't think it's fair. I don't think it's fair on anyone. People should be able to live close to where they work. It's a very basic thing."

Dublin Live has contacted landlord Tathony Holdings for comment.

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