The fund recently established for repairing homes damaged by a shift in the ground below their foundations is failing to provide adequate compensation for property damage caused by pyrite.
Despite the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and €10 million funding to repair homes that have been damaged by pyrite, many homeowners have been excluded from claiming compensation for property damage caused by pyrite because they either live in the wrong areas or have suffered the “wrong” kind of damage.
The €10 million fund is only available to homeowners situated in Meath, Kildare, Offaly, Fingal or Dublin, who own properties that were built between January 1997 and July 2012, where it can be shown that “no other avenue of redress is available to the homeowner” – implying that a homeowner has already tried to claim compensation for pyrite property damage from their insurance company or the constructor of the property, but has been unable to do so.
Further exclusions apply to persons who own more than one property in the affected areas, owners of commercial properties or those who have already paid out of their own pocket to have work done to safeguard the structural integrity of their property. Furthermore no compensation for property damage caused by pyrite is available from the state for homeowners when damage to their homes is due to pyrite being present in the bricks or cement used to construct their properties.
In the claims for compensation for pyrite property damage received so far by the Pyrite Resolution Board, it would appear that many people have not sought compensation from their insurance company or the constructor of the property. This means that not only are the claims for pyrite property damage compensation being declined, but the condition of the affected properties is deteriorating further.
It is recommended that anybody (from any location in Ireland) who believes they may have a construction defect due to pyrite shift – or a defect attributable to pyrite being used in the construction of their home – speak with a solicitor at the earliest possible opportunity. Claims for compensation for property damage caused by pyrite are subject to time limits under the Statute of Limitations, and it is important that you do not lose your entitlement to compensation for pyrite property damage through hesitation.