Couple with four kids ordered to leave Galway home despite pleading not to be 'thrown out on street'
The family said they needed more time to find alternative accommodation and didn’t want to be “thrown out on the street” after renting the property for more than seven years
A couple with four children have been ordered to vacate their apartment in Galway within 28 days despite pleading that they needed more time to find alternative accommodation and didn’t want to be “thrown out on the street”.
Chris and Philomena Adams had been living at Apartment 88 Gleann na Rí in Murrough with their four children aged between nine and 20 since May 2017, paying landlord Ross Tobin monthly rent of €1,405.
Mr Tobin served the tenants with a notice of termination on November 7, 2024 on the grounds that he intended to sell the property. The family were given until June 1, 2025 to vacate the dwelling.
When they failed to move out by that date, the landlord applied to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), which subsequently found that the termination notice was valid and the family was required to vacate within 14 days.
The tenants appealed this decision, and told a Tenancy Tribunal that they did not dispute the validity of the notice but explained that they needed more time to find alternative accommodation.
Chris Adams said he could not state when they would be able to move out, but said he did not want to be “forced out on the street” after nine years renting at that address. He told the tribunal that they had four children aged 20, 17, 14, and nine.
Monica Baran, the landlord’s agent, gave evidence that a notice of termination had been served in November 2024, and that this had been accompanied by a statutory declaration confirming the intention to sell the property within nine months.
She also provided evidence of steps taken to sell the apartment, including a letter of engagement for a sales agent.
The tribunal, chaired by Peter Shanley, found that the notice of termination had complied with statutory requirements and had been properly served on the tenants and copied to the RTB.
The landlord had satisfied the tribunal that he had a genuine intention to sell the property, and it was determined that the notice had been valid and the tenants were overholding.
The tribunal ordered the Adams family and anyone residing in the apartment to vacate and give up possession within 28 days. They were also ordered to continue paying rent at a rate of €46.19 per day until they leave.
Mr Tobin was directed to repay the family’s €1,200 security deposit upon vacation, less any amount lawfully withheld.