We are nearing the end of our journey with a London couple who contacted us back in February 2020 keen to move to the area. It has been quite the timeline but we are thrilled that the couple are just about to move into their dream home. Their story started when the pandemic was escalating and they joined us for a Viewing Day to view a combination of rental properties and possible house purchases. During the Viewing Day the couple got an excellent feel for the areas they preferred and a real feel for the type of house that they were looking for.
On returning to London the couple had lots to consider, but the government announced nationwide lockdown just a few days later. Excited by what they had seen and feeling the pressure to move out of London, the couple asked Chiltern Relocation to focus on a rental option in the short term. This was their priority so that they could start to get settled in the area. They were finding that with young sons it was hard to find space in London parks to social distance and the desire to move had really kicked in following the Viewing Day.
The Rental phase
Chiltern Relocation found the family a sizeable rental house in a central location down a quiet gated road. We moved the family in June with all the lockdown procedures in place and they instantly felt more relaxed and in a position to start hunting for their perfect home.
Living in the heart of Beaconsfield gave the family the opportunity to really get to know the town and walking everywhere with the boys they soon had a clearer idea of their preferred roads and property types. The couple were keen to find a house in a tucked away position, with a sizeable garden, five or more bedrooms and home office. We viewed a number of houses that fitted the criteria but the couple were not keen on the layout or preferred a different location. We arranged a viewing for them on a house in Beaconsfield’s ‘Golden Triangle’ which came with planning permission. The location was stunning. On a quiet road with a neighbourly feel, the house boasted a huge garden and tonnes of scope for a redevelopment as per the plans. An offer was submitted and accepted in October 2020.
The First Major Hurdle: Coming up against a restricted covenant
However, the solicitors soon discovered that there was a restrictive covenant on the house which needed addressing prior to exchange. A restrictive covenant is a contract between two landowners whereby one landowner promises the other landowner not to carry out certain acts on their own land. Restrictive covenants usually happen when somebody selling land wishes to restrict what the buyer can do with it. So, with the vendor selling the covenant would still remain enforceable and the couple’s solicitor explained that if they were to go ahead and build as per the aforementioned planning permission, the build would be deemed illegal. An extremely lengthy conveyancing period followed which included drawing up a ‘Deed Variant’ as both sides’ solicitors worked to resolve the removal of the covenant.
The Second Major Hurdle: Coming up against bats
With the covenant issue resolved the couple were able to exchange and complete and planning permission was subsequently applied for. We arranged for a fantastic local developer to meet the couple and they were both keen to work together on the 9,000sqft project. The couple were keen to include a basement and have a couple of upper floors as part of the build. However, the next hurdle soon presented itself in the shape of black, furry, winged mammals. Bats. By law bats need to be protected so the developer had to provide alternative bat accommodation at the end of the garden when knocking down the property and planning had to include a specified ‘bat room’. This has to be the first ‘bat room’ that we have seen on architect plans but the 3m x 3m room with special access roof tiles was the only way to protect the furry friends and to meet planning requirements.
Finish line in sight
This is has truly been an incredible journey with the challenges of the pandemic, restrictive covenants, discovery of bats and specialised planning permission to name but a few of the hurdles.
But with the finish line (finally) in sight, we are thrilled for our clients who will soon move into their ideal home. The value of excellent solicitors and a fabulous (patient) developer is priceless and without whom this vision would never have been realised.
If you would like help to find your ideal home then please do get in touch. Call 01494 672086, email enquiries@chilternrelocation.com or visit our site for more information www.chilternrelocation.com
