Concrete House Lordship Lane - Public Inquiry

[Siduhe]

SimonM Wrote:

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> The solicitors/conveyancers who acted for whomever

> bought/leased the flats in that house would or

> should have advised them of the uncertain legal

> status of the house. So I guess they took a gamble

> and it looks like they may lose, or may at least

> have some sort of legal redress against whomever

> built or sold them the flats?

The certificate is needed because the white house was built about a metre closer to the old concrete house than was permitted. My understanding (from someone else who is connected to the flat owners) is that all of the purchasers and their solicitors were supplied with plans by the seller which showed the buildings complied with the permission, and the issue regarding the breach of planning was only identified after many of the flats had been legitimately sold. It sounds like a nightmare situation for them to be honest.

[AcedOut]

If only he added a few pebbles and some iron rods.

[LocalYokel]

I have mixed feelings about the White Gothic House. There are two issues.

1. One condition of planning consent was refurbishment of Concrete House. Like SimonM I feel that the people who purchased the flats should have been advised about the planning conditions attached and therefore known the risks. Maybe the responsibility for refurbishing the Concrete House was passed on to them as a condition of sale (likely given comments re service charge), or maybe Mr Laxman assured them that their monies would be used to fund the refurbishment. I do not know, but they decided to go ahead with the purchase anyway. Caveat Emptor!

2. Having looked at the plans, it would seem that the actual plot is about 2m smaller than originally drawn, while the gap between the two buildings is about 60cm less than it should be. This could be a breach of fire regs. I'm not qualified to say whether this warrants demolition.

Personally I think that the GWH is far too close to the Concrete House and should never have been built there as it adversely affects the environment of what was once a lovely Grade II listed property. However, that is a moot point since planning consent was granted.

[The Minkey]

Planning permissions etc aside, while the Concrete House may well be of architectural significance and worthy of listing as a rarity, it's a disappointing example of its type. There's nothing at all to differentiate it from a bog-standard brick built large house of that era, apart from the fact that its proportions are possibly more lacking in elegance.

[ludoscotts]

I think the concrete house is fascinating and should be restored & for the person who was asking for more info on it ive got a book about London and in that it says it was once a childrens home run by a lady called "aunt Leana" nice to think it was once a lovely place with children running about.

[hat282]

I live on Underhill Road, just a few houses down from The Concrete House. Clearly what the owners of that property have done is nothing more than a sustained act of vandalism for commercial gain and as it is a Listed property that should not go unpunished. However, the owners of the flats in the White Gothic House have, it seems to me, done nothing to warrant losing their homes. One of the residents knocked at my home tonight, in a bid to win support from local people to prevent punitive measures against him and others. Of the documents he showed me in support of his case, the most interesting were the dockets from Building Control, signing off on all stages of construction of the Gothic House. Whilst I am aware that BC are looking at construction and safety issues they are all part of Southwark Planning and it seems incredible that one limb should not know what the other is doing. Hardly much point in signing off on something in contravention of planning in the first place and it is easy to see why those purchasing the flats would think that all of these documents meant that the build was legitimate. I cannot see what will be achieved by the demolition of the Gothic House and I hope that others would see fit to support the homeowners who are as much victims of the unscrupulous owners of the Concrete House as the Concrete House itself. I am not usually given to such posts but really felt it right to highlight this tonight.

[sophiesofa]

What can we do to help them? Did he have a petition or anything? I hope they don't lose their homes.

[skidmarks]

My opinion is that the new flats should be demolished and rebuilt where they should have been. The current residents rehoused at the developers? expense until the flats are rebuilt and lawful. I know this we create a lot of upheaval for the current residents but I?m sure they could seek compensation from the developer in the courts.

[sophiesofa]

I don't think there's a right solution. They must be so fed up but the last thing i'd want, if i were them was to be forced out of my home for a year or so. I think what I'd want (not saying this is what they want/need) is to be given the price I'd paid (from the developers pocket) for the flat plus the value it would be worth if it had been built in the right place and sold now, plus any legal fees - they must be so fed up with it all.

[Rose_minksy]

Hi everyone,

I was recently a tenant in White Gothic House - all flats inside the building are rented not bought (thank goodness!) as I don't think Reg Laxman has the proper paperwork to support a sales of any of those flats. I'm trying desperately to get my deposit from one of the flats I rented back though....Reg is a real dodgy dealer. I left the flat in absolutely immaculate condition (and this was weeks ago!) I don't know if anyone else has taken my flat over or not. As soon as other tenants inside the flat got letters from the council about demolishing White Gothic House we all realised how dodgy he really is and a few of us left immediately after that. The whole building is built really cheaply (inside and out) - basically Reg has cut a lot of corners building these flats. If I had known all of these things about Reg I wouldn't have touched the place with a barge-pole! Now I'm still chasing him after weeks of moving out for my deposit! It's unbelieveable.

I hope he's somehow stopped from being a landlord!

[sophiesofa]

Rose on the previous page of this thread owners of the flats are discussed saying they purchased the freehold etc. because of all the problems so I don't think they can all be rented out.

[sophiesofa]

ps i really hope you get your deposit back soon

[hat282]

I feel very foolish for my earlier post on this matter. The person who called at my claiming to be a neighbour was in fact Reg himself. He was very convincing and I am extremely angry to have been involved this way

[genwilliams]

Rose_minksy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi everyone,

>

> I was recently a tenant in White Gothic House -

> all flats inside the building are rented not

> bought (thank goodness!) as I don't think Reg

> Laxman has the proper paperwork to support a sales

> of any of those flats. I'm trying desperately to

> get my deposit from one of the flats I rented back

> though....Reg is a real dodgy dealer. I left the

> flat in absolutely immaculate condition (and this

> was weeks ago!) I don't know if anyone else has

> taken my flat over or not. As soon as other

> tenants inside the flat got letters from the

> council about demolishing White Gothic House we

> all realised how dodgy he really is and a few of

> us left immediately after that. The whole building

> is built really cheaply (inside and out) -

> basically Reg has cut a lot of corners building

> these flats. If I had known all of these things

> about Reg I wouldn't have touched the place with a

> barge-pole! Now I'm still chasing him after weeks

> of moving out for my deposit! It's unbelieveable.

>

> I hope he's somehow stopped from being a landlord!

I considered renting one of those flats last month. But we had trouble pinning down the landlord to arrange a viewing - 'very busy' apparently! Didn't bode well for a landlord-tenant relationship. No sooner than we finally did arrange a viewing, we found somewhere more suitable so cancelled it. It sounds like we may have had a lucky escape!

[Rose_minksy]

Thanks sophiesofa, to be honest I did skim-read the previous thread - as soon as I saw 'White Gothic House' and Reg Laxman's name I became furious and felt I should divulge my experience to tell everyone of my experience of Reg and of living in that property. I have been successful in getting my deposit back but ONLY because I ended up having to send a threatening letter to Reg because I realised he didn't put my deposit in the DPS and he had put it into his bank account. According to the DPS government website, the landlord will have to pay 3 x the deposit if they find them guilty of not protecting their tenant's deposit. So instead of taking him to small claims court as I had threatened AND Reg having to pay 3 x the money, he very speedily paid my deposit back!

New tenants beware! I found this guy's behaviour untruthful and unreliable. Plus the property is already showing signs of wearing down and aging quickly inside because of the cheap materials he's used to build the place. Genwilliams I think you really had a narrow escape!!

[genwilliams]

Phew!

And now I have started a new job in Catford I go past the Concrete House every day on the bus... and what a sad sight it is. I love peculiar buildings like that, but what a shame it's been neglected so badly. I hope it will get the refurbishment and care it deserves.

[LocalYokel]

Reg Laxman's application for Lawful Development was refused.

The existing development is not considered to be lawful because the evidence submitted fails to demonstrate and is insufficient to show that, on the balance of probabilities, the use of the building known as Whitegothic Lodge was constructed and occupied as 6 separate units for a continuous period of 4 years.

[alexpb]

He's trying to let a flat in the white gothic building at the moment - we almost signed until we found this forum. He's a very shady little character.

[DanL87]

Hi all, I'm a student journalist at London Metropolitan and I'm writing an article on the Concrete House.

Now, I've read the thread and I was wondering if there's anything anyone else can remember or more details on what has already been discussed. Anything at all that can be of use to me when writing about the place.

Many thanks in advance.

[bob]

DanL87

There are more thread's on this subject put in the search box

Bob S

[justice pro bono]

Hi all, I was recently a tenant at white gothic house, and to be honest I am finding it very hard to empathise with the general consensus of this thread, about the landlord being the ?shady?, ?slippery? and ?dishonest? character portrayed.

I found him to be very helpful and cooperative, whenever I had an issue he was quick to respond and take action. Also, at Rose_minksy; I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about when you say ?built cheaply? and ?cut a lot of corners? the flats are beautiful inside and the quality of materials used are far beyond what you see in most buildings, the build quality is also excellent as I?m sure anyone who has actually viewed the flats would agree. I received my deposit back with no hassle at all; as I had left it in the condition in which I got it, although I can not fairly speculate on your experience, it is far and away different to that of mine and my neighbours.

To be honest, I am finding there to be an excessive amount of inexperienced and uninformed speculation on the topic of the validity of white gothic house and landlord?s character. As one with first hand experience I would say that there is a lot of bias, unjust and unfair judgement going on here. Personally If I could have, I would have stayed longer at the property, it was delightful to live in, and from experience I know one doesn?t have to go far to find a much worse property and landlord.

[Penguin68]

Interesting first post, justice pro bono - shame you weren't connected to join in this thread earlier (last previous post was in May I note). I assume you must have moved somewhere else in ED to be interested enough in the area to post.

[bob]

Well spotted P68

Bob S

[Jah Lush]

Sounds like bullshit probably posted by the owner.

[Brendan]

What a private landlord being dishonest Jah? Surely not. That?s not in the character of that sort of person who goes in for that sort of business.