Planning Nightmare Leaves Young Family in Co Carlow Without a Toilet

Zoe and Kevin O’Donnell’s dream of home ownership turned into a daily struggle after they discovered their newly purchased property in Milltown, Co Carlow had no access to water or sewerage services. For nine months, the young couple and their two-year-old son have been forced to travel 20 minutes to a service station each evening to use a toilet, making basic routines like potty training impossible.

The issue stems from vague contract documents at auction, which failed to disclose that the water and sewerage pipe connections were owned by Milltown Developments, a business associated with the previous owner, Stephen Murphy. Although the house had been occupied by short-term tenants prior to the sale — who confirmed everything was functioning — the O’Donnells found upon moving in that access to the neighbouring business’s services had been blocked.

Undeterred, the couple began engineering assessments to support a planning permission application for a septic tank. However, their request was ultimately refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Irish Planning Appeals Board), leaving them without a viable long-term solution for essential sanitation.

The situation highlights the risks associated with purchasing auction properties, particularly when contract documentation lacks clarity about utility access. As Zoe O’Donnell noted, “With auction properties, there is a risk that you only get what’s given to you on the contract documents. The more vague the contract documents are, the cheaper the house on the market.”

Despite being aware of potential risks, the couple did not anticipate being cut off from basic water and sewerage infrastructure. Their ongoing ordeal underscores the importance of thorough due diligence when buying property at auction, including verifying rights to essential services before completion.

As of April 2026, the family continues to rely on off-site facilities while seeking alternative resolutions to their planning and sanitation challenges.