How my parents’ plan to self-build on the family farm couldn’t get the green light because of the unsafe speed limit on our stretch of road. When my parents moved to Ireland in the 1970s they bought a derelict cottage which they renovated. They subsequently acquired land nearby, nestled into the wooded hillside of The […] More
So, you’ve designed your house and are looking at an off-the-shelf effluent treatment system to ensure that you keep your groundwater clean and local environment healthy. But is there a way to build your own treatment system? In a word, yes. The most common way to treat the wastewater that comes from one-off houses in the […] More
Every house needs some way to deal with the waste water it generates from flushing the toilet, from showers, washing machines, and so on. Images from The EPA Code of Practice: Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (p.e.≤10) If you cannot connect to the mains wastewater network, then you will need an onsite […] More
I already have a septic tank, should I be worried that it’s not performing? People often forget all about their septic tanks once they’ve moved in but they do need to be desludged, generally once every year or every two years, depending on the size and use of the system (see last question). Other routine […] More
You can’t do any electrical work yourself but whether you’re renovating or building new, it’s good to get to know the basic requirements and regulations. Whether you’re building new or renovating, know that if you’re undertaking any kind of electrical work in ROI only a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) is now allowed to carry it […] More
Planning permission: when do you need it and how can you obtain it? In this first article of a four part series, we look at self-builds and some of the issues to consider. In this article we cover: I’m shopping around for a site. Should I only consider ones that have already been granted planning […] More
John and Susan Black of Co Antrim had a narrow and sloping site, yet they still managed to build their dream home. In this article we cover: Being granted planning permission is, in most cases, a cause to celebrate. However for John and Susan it was a bit of an anti-climax as they soon realised […] More
It may be tempting to buy what looks like a bargain – an incomplete house, but there are some essential checks you should carry out before you take the plunge. Following on from our Q&A with the Property Buyers’ Handbook, we thought we’d delve a bit deeper into the intricacies of buying an unfinished house. […] More
You will need to do some digging, perhaps literally, to find out what the best wastewater option is for your site – even before you buy the land as you may encounter difficulties if you are unable to connect to the main sewer. In ROI where the planning process is integrated with waste management, you […] More
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