The council could be about to put a grade II listed building up for sale after the previous tenant left owing more than £73,000 in rent.
The building – in The Lanes – is in a dilapidated state, according to a report to councillors, and the proceeds from a sale could go towards the cost of building more homes.
The property, at 45-46 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, was occupied by fragrance firm Pecksniff’s but the business has moved to 27 Bond Street.
A decision on whether to sell the premises is due to be made by Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (23 April).
The council owns the freehold of the property which has been empty since May 2024, according to the report to the cabinet.
It said that Pecksniffs Lifestyle Ltd had left the site without notice, with more than £73,000 in rent arrears.
The report said: “There is interest in reletting the property. However, the council would either have to complete the repairs in advance and pay back the capital budget from the income received or oblige the ingoing tenant to complete them and grant a lengthy rent-free period.
“In either scenario, the asset would not be income-producing for several years and is recommended for disposal.”
Pecksniff’s is still trading, having taken over the former Sass and Belle shop at 27 Bond Street, and was contacted for comment.
The proposed disposal is part of the council’s “asset management plan” which looks to identify sites to use for affordable or temporary homes or to sell to raise money to buy or build housing.
The council’s priorities for the asset management plan include adding 2,000 more affordable homes, 200 more temporary homes and “rationalising” the commercial portfolio, “releasing” assets for disposal.
The cabinet is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm on Thursday (23 April). The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
Comercial rents and taxes are too high and are the major reason for the many empty shops.
The council should not be so careless with a Grade II listed building in the heart of the legendary Laines and should pursue the previous renter for the missing rent. He is allegedly a multi-millionaire with multiple properties and businesses and can well afford it. Surely they are not planning to turn it into council housing and it has needs to remain for the uses it is licenced for?
“…the proceeds from a sale could go towards the cost of building more homes.”
Ha Ha Ha… that old one……
Well, that’s what budget reports are for.
Have a look at companies house. Potless business. And not showing a debt of £73K either, so something is wrong with the story above. There is a sum of some £50K showing – but no detail – so perhaps they are repaying it ?
Nothing compared to the I360 !
It wouldn’t show a £73k debt.
Or was the rent witheld owing to a long running dispute about lack of council repairs to the building as a neighbouring business seems to think?
What actions are the coucil or its property agents doing to recover this unpaid rent?
It’s not like the compaany ran off and just dissapeared!
I am agnostic on the sale (I havn’t read the cabinet report) but it can make sense to sell a property like this than spend money on a refurbishment and wait for several years before it becomes income producing.
From what I’ve read, there are several properties they are looking at to rationalise, putting the receipts towards housing provision to reduce pressures from temporary accommodation.