Your property questions answered
Do I lose interest relief if I go abroad for a year?
Q My husband has been offered a job abroad for one year. We bought a house one year ago, and would like to know if we would lose our mortgage relief if we rented the house for a year? If we lose it, can we reinstate the relief upon returning to occupy our home?
AThe answer to the first question is yes - mortgage interest relief cannot be claimed for the period when the residence in respect of which the relief is claimed was not the sole or main residence of the individual, the individual's former or separated spouse, or a dependent relative (meaning a widowed parent of the individual or his/her spouse, or a relative of the individual or his/her spouse who cannot maintain himself or herself by reason of old age or infirmity) for whom the individual provides a residence rent-free and without any other consideration. In your case, the property is currently your sole or main residence but will not be the sole or main residence while you are living abroad. The answer to the second question is also yes - you would again be entitled to mortgage interest relief if you use the residence as your sole or main residence. A qualifying residence for mortgage interest relief purposes can only be situated in this State, Northern Ireland or Great Britain.
Should my painter fix damage he caused to floor?
Q I am having the entire house painted after a major renovation. Yesterday I noticed some damage to the new timber (oak) hall floor (matching dents in what I consider a prominent position) and the new architrave around one of the doors. The painter agrees it was caused by his ladder but says he will be able to fix it. A friend suggested I get it fixed professionally and that my house insurance should cover it. Any advice?
ABoth solutions are most unsatisfactory. The only person who can sort out the dented floor and architraves is a carpenter - not the painter trying to fix it. Fixing a dent in wood is a specialist job and your painter's inexpert solution could create a bigger eyesore than the original problem. As they were so recently installed, why not contact that carpenter and get him to come back and assess the damage and the cost of repair or reinstatement. Then present the figures to the painter. He should have insurance to cover it - it should be claimed against the painter's insurance not yours.
The first thing a homeowner should ask anyone coming into their house to do work is if they have their own insurance. During the past few years when it is was difficult to get any tradesperson in to do anything, people may have left the whole issue of insurance slide but hopefully you asked the right questions when you took on this guy.
If the painter does not have insurance then you could take him to the Small Claims Court where claims up to €2,000 are allowed. The court covers bad workmanship. Get the forms from your local District Court office.
Your questions
Send your queries to Property questions, The Irish Times, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2 or email propertyquestions@irish-times.ie. This column is a readers' service and is not intended to replace professional advice. No individual correspondence will be entered into.
