New “Service Charge”

The majority of households will have to pay a new combined water and property charge of approximately €100, though the exact details are yet to be announced. As reported in the Irish Independent, the charge could range from €100 to €200 but the more likely outcome is closer to €100 with a few exemptions. For those in the rental sector, it will be landlords who foot the bill as the charge applies to property owners. However it is expected that they will pass on the charge to tenants through increasing the rent. Whether or not this is a good idea is up for debate as it may mean that those on lower incomes or social welfare will not be able to afford housing. Anyone who doesn’t pay will be penalised. People may be wondering why they have to pay another tax, especially after the renegotiation of the EU-IMF bailout deal. Transport minister Leo Varadkar has said that regardless of any crisis, our budget deficit still has to be reduced. Grants to local authorities and councils to provide services such as sewerage and road maintenance will be cut with the new tax filling the resulting gap. This is a precursor to a full property tax and water charges. It will take years to roll out, but water meters will have to be installed in every house. There will be a basic amount free but if you go over that you will have to pay a charge. As for the property tax, it will be based upon the house value or its size. The opposition are expected to challenge these measures.

Mould Growth

While generally an all year round problem, mould growth can become more of a problem towards the autumn and winter months so now is the best time to start prevention measures. Before we get into those, it’s important to know the science bit about how it grows and what exactly mould is. Mould is a type of fungi that occurs completely naturally in nature and its main function is to help with the decomposition of organic matter such as leaves. Going by that definition, it obviously has no use indoors. They reproduce through spores that float around in the air and only grow into visible colonies when they spend enough time on a suitable surface containing moisture and nutrients.

Materials that are used in the building of most homes like plywood and carpets are fantastic for mould to take hold of so the key to prevention is moisture. Excess moisture appears after flooding, plumbing leaks, buildings that are too airtight so moisture can’t escape, not enough ventilation near ovens and showers resulting in condensation and general high humidity levels. Condensation also occurs when air gets colder and it loses its ability to retain moisture.

The most common one out of those for Irish homes is probably condensation. It’s an internal problem arising from moisture that can’t escape. To prevent condensation and in turn contribute largely to the prevention of mould you should:

• Have a good ventilation system in place – extractor fans in bathrooms, exhaust fans in cooking and laundering areas and open windows 
• Dry windows and windowsills when you notice condensation forming 
• Insulate cold surfaces well in order to keep central heating low to stop build up on windows, walls and floors 
• Try to keep carpets and rugs away from water sources like sinks and showers 
• Dry washed clothes outside as much as possible 
• Air cupboards and wardrobes frequently 

If mould is already a problem in the home, the best thing to do is get rid of what’s already there and then take preventative measures. Mould killing sprays can be bought in most local supermarkets and these are effective in removing small growths, although a mixture of water and bleach can also help. If on walls or skirting boards, fungicidal paint can be used after the clean up to prevent a recurrence of the problem. For larger growths it is recommended to call a professional mould remover. Certain materials like insulation and carpets can’t just be treated, they need to be removed and replaced.

If you spot the beginnings of mould growth (black pinpricks) take action immediately. While not generally toxic, mould can be an irritant and can contribute to respiratory problems.

*Information sourced from the CDC, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, A Guide to Dealing with Mould and Condensation produced by Stockport Homes (it has some interesting illustrations showing how much excess moisture can be produced by ordinary activities), Dover District Council and general knowledge remembered from years of studying home economics and biology!

 

NPPR and PRTB News

Figures released over the weekend by the Department of the Environment show that NPPR payments have amounted to over €180m since its introduction in 2009. This is vastly greater than the €100m previously expected. Owners of approximately 320,000 second properties have paid up and will no doubt help local authorities to fund the various services they provide. They also have power to chase up payments by checking bills, and the voter and land registers. For those who like a bit of detail, the Irish Independent provides a breakdown of the figures.

• 2009 - 323,365 properties brought in €68.7m in tax 
• 2010 - €66.9m was paid on 320,766 properties 
• 2011- So far, €47.7m was acquired from 238,720 properties 
• All of that totals €183.5 million 

Not surprisingly, most of the second homes are in Dublin with the lowest amount in Monaghan

As expected, the crackdown on PRTB avoiders has begun. According to the Irish Times, the PRTB has written to 1400 landlords warning them that they will be prosecuted for not registering. Inspections of private rented accommodation will be able to be conducted thanks to the €4 million given to local authorities today. These inspections will cover areas such as sound structure, appropriate ventilation and heating etc. Signing onto the register will make inspections and regulation easier. So far, the PRTB has issued eight court summonses for later this month and have secured seven criminal convictions against landlords in the past six months so they are very definitely serious about it! 

Info sourced from the Irish Independent and the Irish Times. Articles can be found here and here respectively