Owners of homes and business premises in Cappoquinn face the prospect of increased ground rents.
A dispute has emerged in Cappoquin over land ownership and leaseholds between tenants, property owners and landlords.
Mick and Bridie Teeling of Main Street, Cappoquin face a huge increase in ground rents that would leave them with little to live on. Bridie Teeling's family have lived in Cappoquin for over a century as tenants of the Keane Estate on two consecutive leases. The first lease ran from 1860 to 1951 at £8 a year and the second lease for 21 years at £10 a year. When the lease came up for renewal, they were offered a lease for a further 21 years. However, the rent went up from £10 to £156 a year. Even if they agree to the new lease, there is a question mark over the ownership of their home. The only way to protect the Teelings and people in their position is for new legislation to be introduced.
Cappoquin is at the heart of an area on the Cork Waterford border that's dominated by the big house.
Cappoquin estate has been home to many of Ireland's landed gentry including the current occupant Sir Richard Keane. He is currently locked in the middle of a bitter leasehold dispute.
Local people have come together to form the Cappoquin Owners, Leaseholders and Tenants Association. The group is a cross section of the community demanding reform of the property laws. In November part of the Keane dairy was destroyed by a bomb.
Since 1737, the Keane family has owned nearly two-thirds of the town of Cappoquin.
The Keane family owns 65 leasehold properties in Cappoquinn. Over the years, annual payments to the estate were nominal in nature and occupiers were under the misconception that the payments were ground rents. They got a rude awakening last year when they witnessed The Flynn Case. John Flynn and his family returned from England and bought out the lease on what was then an almost derelict property. They refurbished the property at their own expense and turned it into a guesthouse.
John Flynn explains that when he paid for the house, he thought he was buying it. He knew there was a lease on the property but never envisaged that the cost of the lease would be increased to such an extent. John Flynn was offered a new lease for 21 years which saw the rent increase from £10 a year to £224. After a legal battle, Sir Richard Keane settled for £120 a year. Even at this rate, John Flynn is unsure what the future holds for their property.
The tenants' association in the town have asked Sir Richard Keane if he would be willing to sell out the leases. He is willing to sell them at a hundred times the ground rent which is out of the reach of most tenants. After the case had been settled, the rest of the town realised that what had happened to the Flynns could happen to them when their leases expired.
John Murphy, managing director of the local bacon factory which employs 165 staff, would be most affected in the long run if Sir Richard succeeds in raising the ground rents. John Murphy is also chairperson of the local tenants' association. He claims that the factory which his family acquired in 1957 was not built by the Keane estate. John Murphy has spent in excess of £200,000 on the buildings.
Any renewal of the lease should not be based on the value of the property.
He argues that it is time that a town that has existed under the freehold of the Cappoquin estate for over 230 years should be entitled to buy out the freeholds of their properties. He believes the residents of the town have a strong legal case.
The episode of 'Enterprise' was broadcast on 12 December 1973. The reporter is Nick Coffey.
'Enterprise' was a series of topical reports on developments in money, industry and science, and how they affect the people of Ireland. 'Enterprise' was presented by Michael Ryan.
