Property Clinic

Worried about that crumbling boundary wall? Flood protection insurance? How to go about getting your attic converted? You’re in the right place!

We regularly receive questions from house-owners, tenants and landlords seeking advice on a wide range of issues: everything from how to manage that attic conversion project through to disputes with neighbours over straying pets!

The Advice Centre allows you to benefit from the advice and experience of our experts and will be of interest to just about anyone who wants to make the most of their home.

We've grouped your questions according to topic. Click one of the topics below to see a collection of questions and advice from the experts.

Many questions we receive are in relation to apartments.

Ultimately, quality of life, including control and certainty over costs and management, will determine the long-term urban sustainability of apartments for residents and particularly families.

Many of the enquiries we receive relate to attics. Attics can give rise to many issues particularly in relation to insulation and water leaks. In addition, attic conversion is often the biggest construction project that a home-owner will undertake, and it is important that qualified professionals are involved during the planning and execution phases.

A selection of enquiries relating to the boundaries between properties.

Boundaries can often be the cause of disputes between neighbours as it may be difficult to ascertain where responsibilities for upkeep lie, or where consent needs to be sought before work on the boundary takes place.

Once you have decided to buy or sell a home, there are a number of things to be advised on like: paying the deposit, arranging the mortgage and getting a surveyor. Buying a house in Ireland normally takes a few months. Patience is essential. It is important to be informed and to work closely with your solicitor.

Sadly, neighbours don’t always make good friends and disputes with neighbours often form the backdrop to many of the enquiries our Advice Centre receives. All too frequently these disputes stem from poorly understood rights and responsibilities in relation to boundaries or common access routes.

If you buy a property in a multi-unit development, an Owners’ Management Company (OMC) legally owns the common areas and is responsible for their upkeep. It is important that you know how OMCs work and get involved in the running of the company so you can help it to work well for everyone’s benefit, including your own.

A selection of enquiries relating to the damp, mould and condensation in the home.

The vast majority of building construction queries we receive are about small renovations, such as addition of a room, or renovation of a bathroom. All building construction projects include some elements in common – design, financial, estimating and legal considerations. Some construction projects can have undesirable end results, such as structural collapse, cost overruns, and/or litigation.

We receive many questions in relation to renting and leasing problems. Your main legal rights and responsibilities as a private tenant derive from landlord and tenant law as well as from any lease or tenancy agreement between you and your landlord.

Roofing problems can be among the most significant and costly that a householder may face. For this reason it’s critical to diagnose roofing issues early and to take effective remedial action before the problem escalates.

Out of control trees and shrubs, cracked drains, leaking rainwater goods, missing roof tiles; these are just some of the things that may lead to structural problems in older buildings if not addressed.