by Louise Doyle
A MAN who is facing being made homeless in Letterkenny with his pregnant wife days after she gives birth, along with their three-year-old daughter, has said he fears his family will not find another home.
Krzysztof Borkowski’s family is one of 19 families living in the Forest Ballymacool housing estate who are facing eviction.
He was told last Friday that he and his family will have to move out of their home in the first week of April. His wife, Aleksandra, is due to give birth to their second child in the last week of March.
Families have received eviction notices detailing how the houses are being put up for sale by the landlord who owns them.
Planning permission was lodged with Donegal County Council last month in the name of applicant Phil Boyle for a new 52-house development in the Ballymacool housing estate.
The properties are to be developed by Twins Estates London Limited. Submissions are open until October 17 2023, with Donegal County Council due to make a decision on November 7.
Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday, Mr Borkowski told of how he and his wife Aleksandra have lived in the Letterkenny housing estate for almost four years with their daughter, Rosie.
“I feel anger and fear,” he said.
“We moved here from Thornberry when we moved to Donegal from Kildare. We are originally from Poland. Out of nowhere we received a letter on Friday. I was working that day and I got a text message from my wife saying we have to move out in six months. I felt fear and anger, especially being in the situation we are in, with one little girl and another baby on the way. It was very unexpected.”
Mr Borkowski said his family have made the area their home. Their daughter attends Bee Kool Kids in Ballymacool.
“We all know each other. Some of the families I know are living here 14 or 15 years, that is a long time. We don’t want to leave here at all.”
The father said he fears his family will not find another home in the current difficult climate, given the housing emergency and mica crisis.
“It wasn’t hard to find accommodation here four years ago but if you look at Daft now there are only a couple of accommodations now, and compared with prices to a few years ago there’s a big difference.
“It is very difficult to find a place to stay. Apart from my wife’s aunt and uncle, we have no other family here.”
Chairman of Ballymacool Residents’ Association, Cathal McGlynn described the move as “morally wrong”, and said the group will make a submission to the sought for planning application.
“Most of the residents are living here a long time. They work in the area, and their children attend the local créche. They have invested in the area. We will make a submission and appeal with Twin Estates to reverse the decision.
“While they are within their right to sell the properties, it is morally wrong. We have been looking in the locality and the homes that are for rent are too expensive. Rents are sky high. These families are everyday working families. On top of this, we have the mica crisis and the housing crisis. It is not eviction, it is homelessness they are facing.
“The majority of families are Polish. They don’t have a big family network here, so moving in with other family members is not an option. Many families have generations of their family living with them. One resident is a 56-year-old woman who cares for her 80 year-old-mother. She also works from home and they have pets. What will happen in their case?”
Mr McGlynn said he will seeking advice from the Rental Tenancies Board (RTB) and Threshold.
“This has shocked everyone. No one was expecting this. I have also emailed the council’s housing officer to request an emergency meeting.”
Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Cllr Gerry McMonagle and Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh both urged the council to consider buying the houses.
Cllr McMonagle also suggested that some of the tenants facing eviction may qualify for the tenant-in-situ scheme.
In response, a council housing spokesperson said this would have to be looked at on a case by case basis.
In documents sent to residents, seen by the Donegal News, signed by Mr Boyle, he outlined he did not make the decision to sell their houses “lightly”.
“Unfortunately, due to a change in company circumstances this was seen as the only necessary course of action. I can understand that this notice of termination has taken you by surprise and may be causing you some stress. The huge demand for housing coupled with the current mica issues in Donegal makes seeking new accommodation so much more challenging,” he wrote.
Mr Boyle said he will offer tenants the opportunity to “re-occupy the dwelling under tenancy if we do not sell the house”.
“I am also investigating the possibility of institutional investors interested in buying houses with a sitting tenant. Finally, the company has several other residential properties within the town. We are also looking at refurbishing several others.
“I have also spoken to other accommodation providers who have indicated that they have alternative premises and are willing to help where necessary.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)