A High Court dispute with a property agent over the letting out of 17 Dublin houses and apartments, which were allegedly overcrowded with occupants who were not given written leases, has been settled. Brian Conroy SC, for the property owners, told Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Friday that the case had been settled and could be adjourned to July for implementation of the settlement. The case came before the court last week by way of an application by the three corporate owners seeking injunctions against the agent, Kevin O’Brien, otherwise Kevin Linehan O’Brien, of North Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, and his company Linehan O’Brien Investments Ltd, with a registered address at Adelaide Road, Dublin. It was alleged Mr Linehan O’Brien and his company let out the properties to migrants and foreign students without the knowledge of the owners, Blumay Ltd, Sunchulo Ltd, Maroon Zirconium Ltd, and Harts Alexandra Ltd, and of the owners’ agent, QTX Services Ltd. The arrangements made with the defendants only came to light after a QTX employee, who had dealt with Mr Linehan O’Brien, left her employment and QTX carried out a survey of the properties. It was alleged that between 50-80 migrants and foreign students were accommodated, involving dividing some of the sitting room/living spaces into bedrooms and without having written tenancy agreements for the occupants. The proceedings began with only the owners’ side represented when they sought permission to serve papers on the defendants. When the case returned on Tuesday last, counsel for the defendants said the “vast majority of issues are controverted” and his client’s position was that he has tenancy and is in possession of the properties. The judge put the case back to Friday after Mr. Justice Cregan said he was concerned about the case for obvious reasons and would on Friday make interim orders if necessary because of concerns about the defendants approaching occupants of the properties. After he was told the matter was settled on Friday, he adjourned it to late July for implementation of the settlement. The houses and apartments are in Grantham Place, Portobello, Harrington Street, Old Naas Road, Capel Street, East Wall, and one is in Mount Pleasant Avenue Lower in Ranelagh. The owners had asked the court for injunctions restraining the defendants from trespassing, representing themselves as being manager of the properties, and from interfering with the owners’ agent in taking back possession of the properties. They said they wanted to regularize the situations of the occupants. Mr. Linehan O’Brien, in response to communications from QTX, had claimed what the owners were doing was illegal and insisted that the matter falls under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board, which the owners dispute because he is not in personal possession.
Not really sure why this matters, but the case involving a property agent in Dublin letting out overcrowded houses and apartments to migrants and foreign students without written leases has been settled, according to Brian Conroy SC. The property owners sought injunctions against Kevin O’Brien and his company Linehan O’Brien Investments Ltd for allegedly letting out the properties without their knowledge. The situation only came to light after a QTX employee left her job and a survey of the properties was conducted. Allegations of overcrowding and lack of written tenancy agreements for occupants were made against the defendants. The initial proceedings had only the owners’ side represented, seeking permission to serve papers on the defendants. When the case returned, the defendants’ counsel contended that the majority of issues were disputed, claiming tenancy and possession of the properties. Mr. Justice Cregan expressed concern about the case and potential interference with occupants, leading to an adjournment until late July for settlement implementation.
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the property dispute in Dublin involving overcrowded rental properties and unauthorized tenants has finally come to a close. The property owners, represented by Brian Conroy SC, reached a settlement with Kevin O’Brien and Linehan O’Brien Investments Ltd after seeking injunctions against them for allegedly leasing out properties without consent. The defendants were accused of housing migrants and foreign students without the knowledge of the owners, resulting in makeshift bedrooms in common areas and absence of written lease agreements. The case unfolded with initial representations from the owners’ side, aiming to serve papers on the defendants. Upon the return of the case, the defendants’ counsel contested the allegations, claiming tenancy rights and property possession. Mr. Justice Cregan expressed apprehension about potential interference with occupants and decided to adjourn the case for settlement implementation in late July.
