Local owners of homes with defects call for reform of MUD Act

Following the securing of interim fire safety funding in December, local owners of Celtic Tiger-era apartments with defects have started the application process and are on phase 2 of the application for funding.

The Not Our Fault Campaign are a group made up of residents from the Crescent Building, Park West, the Academy Building and the Concert Building, also Park West, as well as residents from Hunterswood, The Metropolitan, The Tram Yard, Inchicore, The Belfry Citywest, Beaumont Court and Cathedral Court.

They have now joined forces with the Construction Defects Alliance (CDA) and the Apartment Owners Network (AON) to campaign to get an overhaul of the MUD Act because they say many management companies are not engaging or listening to directors and owners of these developments.

The MUD ACT (Multi-Unit Development Act) was enacted in 2011 to assist homeowners and was intended to be a reforming piece of legislation, to deliver improved protection and dispute regulation.

The group are calling on owners of homes with defects to complete a short survey at www.mudreform.ie

They are also looking for the introduction of a regulator in this area.

Odette Doran from the Not Our Fault Campaign explained to Dublin People why they are calling for reform.

“We are looking for the introduction of a regulator in this area as there is no manual or guide for directors to turn to,” she said.

“These are ordinary people stepping up trying to do the best they can for the development they live in and being asked to make big decisions and accept big responsibilities and nowhere to turn for assistance.

“We need a regulator in this area as heading into this remediation project there are up to 100,000 homeowners, at an estimated cost of 2.5 billion.

“So there needs to be a regulator to offer help and guidance to people in these developments.

“We have been in touch with all of the major political parties all the issues we brought up with the relevant parties in the Dail were all supportive of the need for a regulator and change to the MUD Act that’s why we have started a campaign for homeowners in apartments or duplex’s around the country to take the short survey.

“The more signatures we get, the better push we will have with the government to change this and for people to move on and make their homes safe to live in again.

“So any effected homeowners reading this, please go to www.mudreform.ie and sign the survey to help the campaign progress.”