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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Residents fear losing their homes | Residents fear losing their homes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Residents of a retirement park in County Down have said they are worried they may lose their Groomsport homes. | Residents of a retirement park in County Down have said they are worried they may lose their Groomsport homes. |
| They received letters from the company which owns the park which says their static homes have to be upgraded at a cost of at least £90,000 each. | They received letters from the company which owns the park which says their static homes have to be upgraded at a cost of at least £90,000 each. |
| Residents said they cannot afford to do that and are worried about the future. | Residents said they cannot afford to do that and are worried about the future. |
| However, the owner of Lifestyle Homes Ireland, Gavin Logan, said he was prepared to meet them to hear their concerns. | However, the owner of Lifestyle Homes Ireland, Gavin Logan, said he was prepared to meet them to hear their concerns. |
| One resident of Seahaven Park Homes said owners had been issued with a contract "which states that after 10 years our guaranteed tenure is up". | One resident of Seahaven Park Homes said owners had been issued with a contract "which states that after 10 years our guaranteed tenure is up". |
| He added: "After that, we will be on a year-to-year contract, which is not the terms I agreed to come here under. | He added: "After that, we will be on a year-to-year contract, which is not the terms I agreed to come here under. |
| "I moved here due to ill-health. I had serious problems with my health and I found I was no longer able to work. | "I moved here due to ill-health. I had serious problems with my health and I found I was no longer able to work. |
| "The mortgage couldn't be paid any more because of my inability to work." | "The mortgage couldn't be paid any more because of my inability to work." |
| 'Original terms' | 'Original terms' |
| Another resident said: "My wife and I moved here because of my ill-health. | Another resident said: "My wife and I moved here because of my ill-health. |
| "We just couldn't afford a mortgage anymore. We decided we would come here to live, buy our home here and lease the ground from these people (Lifestyle Homes Ireland) and now we find ourselves in this situation." | "We just couldn't afford a mortgage anymore. We decided we would come here to live, buy our home here and lease the ground from these people (Lifestyle Homes Ireland) and now we find ourselves in this situation." |
| The residents said they were being told to upgrade the homes they own to specifications issued by Lifestyle Homes Ireland. | The residents said they were being told to upgrade the homes they own to specifications issued by Lifestyle Homes Ireland. |
| The residents said the move affected about 60 homes, with some couples with less than a year's tenure remaining. | The residents said the move affected about 60 homes, with some couples with less than a year's tenure remaining. |
| They said the homes were less than four years' old. | They said the homes were less than four years' old. |
| However, Mr Logan said: "The homes that they have, in a very short number of years, will not be suitable for habitation. | However, Mr Logan said: "The homes that they have, in a very short number of years, will not be suitable for habitation. |
| "They are not suitable at the minute for all-year use. | "They are not suitable at the minute for all-year use. |
| "I have no problem meeting with them. They have never requested a meeting with me. | "I have no problem meeting with them. They have never requested a meeting with me. |
| "But our view remains the same. It is not us being hard on them - we are part of the National Caravan Council and they have regulations throughout the whole of the UK - it is not specific to us." | "But our view remains the same. It is not us being hard on them - we are part of the National Caravan Council and they have regulations throughout the whole of the UK - it is not specific to us." |