Latest news with #CarterJonas
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
HS2 tenants reveal ongoing problems over rent and repairs
When Rob Taylor first moved into his HS2-owned barn conversion in the Warwickshire hamlet of Gilson, it was his "little piece of heaven".Ten years later, the area is surrounded by the High Speed Two works, with road closures, dust and noise now part and parcel of everyday the surroundings, he has had two large rent increases in quick succession - £250 a month last year and £400 a month this year. "It's crazy, I don't know who could afford it", My Taylor said it carries out rent reviews in line with tenancy agreements, and that several properties, including Gilson, were historically let below market value to account for their proximity to major construction activity. But the heating engineer said he cannot see how Carter Jonas, the company that manages the properties on behalf of HS2, can justify the rise."We're in the middle of a 360 building site and it gets more and more intense." He also accuses the company of failing to address several maintenance issues, including his garden decking which he says still hasn't been replaced three years after it was removed."It doesn't matter how much I complain, nothing happens."He added it was sad to see the house "rolling into poor condition", with threadbare carpets, loose brickwork on an external wall and leaks all being ignored. HS2 bought up hundreds of homes along the high-speed rail route, letting out those it didn't demolish and said it had to balance tenant circumstances with its responsibility to deliver value for public Taylor is among a number of tenants in Gilson who have contacted the local MP, Rachel Taylor, who represents North Warwickshire and has written a letter to HS2 demanding answers, and also raised it in a meeting with them recently."There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how they can put the rent up by so much and not carry out essential repairs', she a statement, HS2 said they were increasing the rent in line with market conditions but she argued there should be an element of compensation for people living with the High Speed Two works on their is also critical of Carter Jonas and the way it has treated people and said it was "failing" in its role as managing agent. At the Grade II listed house Richard Sorensen rents from HS2 in Blithbury, Staffordshire, he said there is an endless list of has lived there with his family for four years, and said they were drawn to the property because of the views over the valley. "It is absolutely beautiful living here".But he claims the house doesn't have a "functioning heating system" so they are freezing in the winter. This is a point HS2 denies and it said measures, such as installing loft insulation, had been taken to mitigate heat loss have also had leaks from the roof and through the walls, with water coming into the bedroom which HS2 said they repaired. HS2 told the BBC Carter Jonas had attended to repairs throughout the Sorensen said, "I think they treat tenants disgustingly, they seem to regard us a lower form of life."He said even an improvement notice by Lichfield District Council, which found extreme cold in the property, had been has threatened legal action against Carter Jonas but he said as crown tenants they had limited legal February this year the company applied for listed building consent to carry out some work and issued him with a notice to quit on the basis that the work couldn't be carried out with them living believes it's a revenge eviction and said it had been extremely stressful."They seem to be happy to let the building fall apart for four years and the moment we threaten legal action they evict us."Despite all the issues with the property, they love the house and he said "the thing that upsets us the most is the thought that it's going to be left to rot".In response HS2 said: "We are satisfied that Carter Jonas is managing the property professionally and appropriately and have recently obtained listed building consent to commence more significant works."
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Towns to be blighted with empty office blocks under net zero rules
Towns across Britain face being blighted with empty office blocks under proposed net zero energy efficiency rules, experts have warned. Nearly two thirds of offices across the country would fail to meet proposed energy performance certificate (EPC) targets by 2030 without significant investment, according to findings by property consultancy Carter Jonas. Researchers warned that without 'urgent' investment, older and lower-quality offices 'face a future of declining value, rising vacancies and operational obsolescence'. The conclusion was based on analysis of 120,000 buildings across the country. Towns and cities in England's regions are the most at risk of being left with unusable buildings because these areas traditionally suffer weaker investment and tenant demand than London. Under government proposals devised in 2021, offices and other commercial properties can only be rented out if they have an energy efficiency rating of at least C from 2027 and either A or B from 2030. Labour has still not confirmed whether it will give those measures the go-ahead, scrap them or push back the deadlines, despite previously promising to update the industry during the first half of this year. The lack of clarity over this has left commercial landlords in limbo. Researchers at Carter Jonas said: 'The proposed 2027 and 2030 [deadlines] represent potential cliff-edge moments for ... buildings with EPC ratings of C or below. While timelines may shift modestly, the direction of policy is clear.' 'Far too slow' Landlords have made some progress with renovations, with Carter Jonas noting a near-6pc rise in EPC A to C certifications since 2023. These account for nearly 38pc of the nation's offices. The proportion of bottom-rated buildings has reduced from 17.2pc to 14.1pc over the same period. However, Richard Love, the head of commercial consultancy at Carter Jonas, said progress remained 'far too slow', and warned the pace was short of what was needed to meet proposed targets. Mr Love said: 'We urgently need to scale up retrofits and rethink how we deal with ageing buildings – or we risk leaving parts of the market and whole communities behind.' More than half of all office floorspace – totalling around 700m sq ft across nearly 68,000 buildings – was built before 1990, signalling the scale of the challenge in bringing offices up to modern standards. However, researchers warned that even many newer buildings constructed in the past two decades could also fall short of future sustainability requirements. Glasgow and Edinburgh have been the best cities at bringing buildings up to new energy efficiency standards, which Carter Jonas said was a signal of effective local policy and investment. Cardiff and Manchester were among the worst. The British Property Federation (BPF) has previously criticised the proposed EPC deadlines as 'unrealistic'. Research from the BPF showed earlier this year that 83pc of commercial properties in England's biggest cities could become unlettable by 2030 without significant investment. Bristol and Birmingham were among the most exposed. Raising a building's EPC rating is a process that can take several years. Landlords need to give notice to the tenants, who would need to vacate the premises. Owners then need to apply for planning permission for improvement works, which need to be commissioned and completed before final inspections are carried out. Renovations can also cost millions of pounds.
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Our idyllic village was made famous by hit ITV show… but we're DISGUSTED with ‘faceless developers' who's forcing us out
Until recently, the estate had been in the hands of the same family for more than two centuries ON A WARPATH Our idyllic village was made famous by hit ITV show… but we're DISGUSTED with 'faceless developers' who's forcing us out Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RESIDENTS of an idyllic village made famous by a hit ITV have slammed "faceless developers" who are ruining their town. Disgruntled locals in Littlebredy, Dorset, have said their picturesque town has become "totally different" after a number of changes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Protesters organised by Right to Roam access the closed Bridehead Estate amenity grounds on Saturday Credit: Getty 8 The picturesque village of Littlebredy in Dorset Credit: Alamy 8 The mansion at the heart of the Bridehead Estate in Dorset was sold by its popular owners Credit: Carter Jonas 8 They accessed the closed Bridehead Estate amenity grounds in a mark of protest Credit: Getty Set in the heart of the 2,047-acre Bridehead Estate, the tiny hamlet was thrust into the spotlight when it featured in ITV crime drama Broadchurch. But now residents say their tranquil slice of rural England is under siege - and they are already fighting back. Until recently, the estate had been in the hands of Sir Philip and Lady Catherine Williams - the seventh generation of the family to live there since 1797. The couple were seen as part of the village's fabric, opening up the stunning grounds and waterfall to locals and visitors alike. But the large number of Broadchurch fans descending onto their home and gawping at the houses saw them become increasingly frustrated. It meant the £30million estate - which includes a manor house and thatched cottages - was sold by the popular owners to a 'faceless' investment company called Belport Ltd, reports the Telegraph. Just last month, the path to the lake and a tumbling waterfall -which was used as a crime scene in Broadchurch - was closed, piling on misery for residents. However, locals have vented their frustrations after the multi-million pound estate was sold off, fearing their community is being ripped apart in a secretive land grab. Oxfordshire-based Belport Ltd have padlocked the gates to the estate and slapped up warning signs telling walkers to keep out. Belport said it may reopen the path if 'issues' could be addressed. The firm claim it's for 'health and safety' reasons, but villagers say it's nonsense. Neighbours vs. New Builds: The Bradford Planning Showdown Protester Russell Giles, 65, from Dorchester, told the Telegraph: "They are taking away land that's been used by the public for 65 years. "It feels so heavy-headed and unnecessary, a faceless corporation taking over. The idea that they are doing it for health and safety is ludicrous. "If we don't fight for our rights, we lose access to nature. And here, people might also lose their homes. It feels like an injustice.' The first casualty was long-standing resident and well-known cookery writer Christine McFadden, who was forced out after her tenancy wasn't renewed. She said: 'I lived in Littlebredy for 21 years and absolutely loved it. But now it is totally different.' Her old home has now been turned into an office for the new estate managers. She added: 'I was so upset when I got asked to move, but now I'm glad I don't live there. No one knows what's happening.' And Christine isn't the only one. Dozens of worried residents fear they could be next, with many living in homes under rolling short-term tenancy agreements. 8 The Bridehead Estate was bought for about £30million Credit: Alamy 8 But locals are not giving up without a fight Credit: Getty 8 The entrire village of 32 homes are facing problems Credit: Alamy One local, who didn't want to be named, admitted they have "no idea who the new owners are" and confessed that residents are "completely powerless". Belport has claimed it has no plans to evict anyone and is simply carrying out upgrades to bring the homes up to 'minimum energy and safety standards'. On Saturday, around 70 campaigners and locals took part in a mass Right to Roam protest. Frustrated residents scaled a stone wall, enjoyed a picnic by the waterfall and read poetry in protest. Locals fear the upgrades will push rents sky-high, pricing them out of the homes their families have lived in for generations. 'POWERLESS' The anonymous local said the community feels "at the mercy of the investors" and it seems like "an end of an era". Organiser Nadia Shaikh blasted the move from Belport as morally wrong, saying: 'Of course the new owners have the legal right to take access away, but to do so is, in our view, morally wrong and deeply sad.' In a statement, Belport said: 'Belport's background is in estate management and we have the goal of modernising and improving our assets through ongoing investment. 'Having bought the Bridehead estate, our principal focus is to orchestrate a sequence of upgrade works to each of the estate properties in Littlebredy, which will bring them up to current and anticipated minimum energy and safety standards required of all landlords. 'Contrary to reports, there are no plans to evict anyone.' The statement adds that access to the waterfall and lake, which has been accessible since the 1950s, had been 'temporarily suspended pending a health and safety review of access routes, trees and open water'. However, the company states that if any issues that arise can be addressed 'sufficiently [then] we intend to reopen the area to the public'.
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Peterborough City Council approves 316 homes to be built
Permission to build more than 300 homes as part of a development near a city have been approved by a City Council approved the homes on Tuesday, which will form part of the Great Haddon development near Yaxley, Cambridgeshire. The wider project was approved by the authority in 2015, which included building 5,350 homes, a shopping centre, three primary schools and a secondary school. The authority has now given permission for the final 316 properties to be built off the Yaxley Loop Road, which is now referred to as Lodge Way. A planning statement was submitted by Carter Jonas on behalf of the developer David Wilson Homes, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. It said the new homes would be of "high quality and sustainable design" and would provide a "seamless transition" from the project's phase one, which saw the construction of 347 homes in the east of the of the 316 homes approved to be built, 265 will be private market housing and 51 will be affordable homes. The properties will be a mixture of one to five-bedroom construction of a 420-place primary school in Great Haddon is due to begin in the late summer and finish in September 2026, subject to planning permission being granted in month, the Department for Education appointed Hampton Academies Trust to operate the new school. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Victorian chapel home in Hampshire could be yours for £1.4m
A three-bedroom former Victorian chapel in Bramdean, Hampshire is up for sale. Set in the heart of the South Downs National Park, Woodlands Chapel dates back to 1889 and was a rural chapel under the Portsmouth Diocese until 1982. It has been lovingly restored by its current owners who have modernised the property throughout, while being careful to retain its unique period features and charm. The property has stained glass windows, domed wooden ceilings, brick and flint elevations and a bell tower. Anyone seeking to snap it up will need deep pockets, however, as it has an asking price of £1.395million. One of the highlights of the home, which is being sold by estate agent Carter Jonas, is a double-height living and dining room. There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor, and, at present, a further fourth bedroom on the ground floor which doubles up as a study. There is also an exceptional separate garden room. The new owner will be able to make the most of the property's Neptune kitchen and a handy separate boot and utility room. Externally, the property has various terraced, lawned and paved areas, a range of beds and well-stocked borders. The outdoor spaces have been designed with outdoor dining and relaxation in mind and offer a range of different spaces ideal for entertaining guests. Naturally, the property benefits from sweeping views of the surrounding rural countryside. Sophie Richardson, head of residential sales at Carter Jonas Winchester, told This is Money: 'Woodlands Chapel is a truly unique home set in the heart of the South Downs and surrounded by rolling fields, providing far-reaching country views. 'The former Victorian chapel perfectly blends striking architectural heritage with stylish living spaces that combine to create one of the finest private homes in the area.' She added: 'The characterful home retains original stained-glass windows, a bell tower, and breath-taking rural views. 'Perfect for a young family, downsizers or individuals looking for a stylish home with a story to tell, Woodlands Chapel is also within easy reach of the popular market towns of Alresford and Petersfield.' Get talking: The outdoor space has multiple dining and relaxation areas Set in the hamlet of Woodlands in the South Downs National Park the property has views of the Meon Valley countryside. It is close to Alresford, home of the famous Watercress Line steam railway which runs to the Hampshire town of Alton in Jane Austen country, where there is also fast mainline rail services to London Waterloo. Amid falling congregation numbers, there has been a marked increase in the number of church and chapel conversions in recent years. However, if you plan to buy an unconcerted church building - one that is no longer in use for religious services - it is important to get the correct planning permissions in place before starting any work. Such conversions can be expensive and complex, particularly if the building is listed. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
