'I wish I had not sacrificed those six precious months with my baby boy'

A FIRST-TIME buyer in the Wellfield development in Ratoath has spoken of her disappointment and disillusionment over the lack of communication and the delays in completing their first home.

Vicky Tyrell told how she felt she couldn't take maternity leave and went back to work just weeks after her baby was born so she could keep clean bank statements for her mortgage approval, in the belief that she would be in her home by now.

Vicky and her husband still don't know when they will get the keys to their home and while the latest information is early November, the end date they expected has shifted several times since they first put down their deposit in November of last year.

They are currently renting and are now on borrowed time as their landlord wishes to sell the house.

Vicky first heard about the Ratoath development in 2021 and from the outset said she was constantly trying to chase information from Kingscroft to the point that it made it feel like she was "stalking them for information".

"We found out who the selling agent was (Knight Frank) before Kingscroft informed us. I then started making contact with agents in Knight Frank in March 2023. I fell pregnant in October 2022 and gave birth in May 2023. During this time we were placed on a priority list for phase one and a €5k deposit had to be given in November 23, nearly a year ago now.

"I felt I couldn't take maternity leave as I needed six months clean bank statements to retain aip [approval in principle] which we got from our bank at the time.

“I returned to work weeks after having my baby in order to maintain a good credit report. We then went through a system issue with our bank where we lost our aip, we had to pivot last minute and in the end retained full mortgage approval with Bank of Ireland. We handed over a €5k deposit from personal savings in November 2023. The balance of the €10k deposit was again from our personal savings and our htb [Help to Buy] access was given to Kingscroft in April 24. If not claimed, this runs out in December 24."

Vicky said they signed their contracts with the expectation that their house would be complete in July/August.

"We have been nothing but forthcoming to their deadlines but in return we have been left disappointed time after time with end dates.

“We do not know what our kitchen, wardrobes, tiles etc in our near half a million euro house look like and we have no clue as to when we will cross the threshold of our very first home."

In May, completion was still guiding mid summer and in June they were told the kitchen/wardrobe layouts and tiles and the showhouse would be ready would be June/July.

In July, they were still chasing updates and rumours started to spread about Sept/Oct move in dates which Vicky said Knight Frank confirmed eventually to be October, then recently, earliest November.

"I wish I had not sacrificed those six precious months with my baby boy and allowed him that crucial early development and bonding time. I know Kingscroft have a business to run. We are not asking for much as a group in Wellfield: just simple answers to simple questions... one being, when will we move in?"

Last week, the Meath Chronicle spoke to two other buyers in the development who also spoke of their frustration at the lack of information and the delays.

One of the buyers is living from a suitcase and staying with friends while another is on borrowed time as the landlord wants to sell the house and has already given them an extension.

The situation in Wellfield follows similar issues at Bailey Hill, Navan, another Kingscroft development where buyers also experienced delays on getting into their homes.

Kingscroft and Knight Frank have been approached for comment.