Feature
The 19th Unique Property Syndicate?
Cabins To Buy [For Resale] From £10,000 Each
A Decent Sized, 851 Ton Ship: Bargain Price? – MV Saturn (c) 2015 Ocean Hopper
Could this be another double the money adventure like previous maritime Unique Property Syndicates?
With a review of earlier Syndicates….
Feature details at the foot of this page.
============ Regular Bulletin Listings Now Follow ============
Square Bashing To Four Houses
Old Drill Hall, New Horwich Road, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK28 7LG
Anyone who has been through the paces barked out by a drill-sergeant will perhaps have interesting memories, and might like to consider buying this former drill hall? An interesting detached structure which has valuable planning permission ready to convert the property into four houses.
If you get your sums right, this may be one of the delightful projects to manage where you buy the whole thing and conduct all the work, with the fourth house as your very own, free, well almost – in essence for services rendered – to complete the whole conversion. The initial three properties that you helped build provide a return, via sales, to then place you in a bank finance free place to live in the fouth home without the burden of either rent or mortgage payments.
Guide: £180,000. This is an FTSAA so a little haggle room perhaps.
Click Here For Online Brochure
Contact – Countrywide Auctions Tel: 0114 254 1185
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Court In Bits
The Old Court House, 1 Louth Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 5ED
We have a niche of Bulletin readers who love old courts. Go figure? Anyways, here is a fine looking building which is being sold – we think in bits. We leave it up to readers’ to study this in further detail if the building style and genre does it for you.
Auctioneer’s Narrative: The Old Court House is one of Horncastle’s Landmark Buildings, occupying a prominent position in a mixed residential and commercial position. This imposing building offers approx. 3600 sq. ft. with planning permission for conversion to three spacious apartments with ample car parking. The Old Court house was constructed in 1865 as a court and administrative offices and has more recently provided office accommodation on ground and first floors. This attractive and imposing building is Grade II Listed and features exterior stone detailing including a Royal Coat of Arms, sweeping balustrade staircase and ornamental ceiling.
Guide: £195,000. This is an FTSAA so a little haggle room perhaps.
Click Here For Online Brochure
Contact – Richard Stephens Tel: 07725 428789
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Bargain Barn & Plans
The Old Barn, Leswidden Farmhouse, Leswidden, St. Just, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 7RU
An opportunity to acquire a redundant barn with a Conditional Planning Permission already in place to create a two bedroom, reverse level dwelling with parking, the principal garden lying to the front of the property along with an adjacent paddock of circa 0.122 hectares/0.3 acres.
Guide £80,000. This is an FTSAA so some haggle room may be possible.
Click Here For Online Brochure & Draft Title Plan Guide Map
Contact – Wendy Alexander Tel: 01392 311491
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Ready For Chapel?
The Old Chapel, Mill Road, Hempnall, Norfolk, NR15 2LP.
The Old Chapel is a beautifully restored former Methodist church which dates back to circa 1880 with a later addition in the 1950s. The property is of solid brick construction under a slate roof.
The property has been extensively renovated and restored during 2014 to now provide a truly amazing home with great care and attention taken to enhance the period features of the property whilst converting it into a comfortable home.
Click Here For Online Brochure & Photos
Guide: £500,000
Contact – Savills Tel: 01603 229206 – Mike Rix
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DON’T RISK A NEAR MISS
It is a good idea to regularly check back to this website and keep an eye on the Unique Property Bulletin…
JUST IN CASE…
…we happen to find and feature that very special building that you have been looking for.
A UNIQUE HOME IN A UNIQUE LOCATION FOR YOU.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR
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A Toast For Triple Oast
Laddingford Farm Oast, Laddingford, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6BX
A regular favourite amongst Bulletin reader emails are the relatively rare former Oast Houses. Also quite a disproportionate number of our readers appear to be looking at Kent to buy. Out of curiosity does anyone know why? With regards to the Triple Oast building currently for sale here, it may be an attraction to the circular rooms that come about upon conversion of these interesting structures. Or possibly the pleasant aroma of saccharification enzymes – ingredients for New Year and special occasions – that make them such enjoyable unique places to call home!
This property has three towers which makes it that extra bit special. Attached to a timber frame barn which provides excellent accommodation. There is the benefit of an indoor swimming pool and a separate studio with adjoining garaging. Internally the accommodation is well presented with some exposed wall and ceiling timbers, some full height windows to the ground floor, Travertine flooring and attractive radiator covers. The house is set in a delightful garden with established planting which provides a high degree of privacy.
Guide: £1,395,000
Click Here For Online Brochure & More Photographs
Contact – Savills Tel: 01732 789 700 – Dominick Brown
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Ballymena Modern Turret
51 Lisaboy Road, Dunloy, Ballymena, BT44 9BU
Our apologies. We don’t feature enough property from Northern Ireland. This unusual design caught our eye. Not just because it is a little out of the ordinary, but the price may just be something to check out too. This towering modern home is for sale via Wilsons Auctions on 29th January 2015. Though ALWAYS remember to check if it fails to sell at auction [in case you see this listing after the auction]. We know from wonderful experience that many a bargain is to be secured from the FTSAA – Failed to Sell At Auction list.
Auctioneer’s Narrative: Comprising internally of bright entrance hall with circular brick tower and staircase, lounge, large kitchen-dining, sunroom, utility room, cloakroom/wc and a ground floor bedroom with ensuite. On the first floor a minstrels gallery overlooks the kitchen, a master bedroom with dressing room and ensuite, a further 2 bedrooms, one with a linked room and large bathroom within the circular tower. The second floor was not accessible as the staircase has been removed but appears to be a further living/sitting room within the turret [signals a bit of haggle factor in negotiations for prospective buyers].
Guide: £270,000
Click Here For Further Details
Contact – Wilsons Auctions Tel: 02890 342626
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Unique Property Competition
For January + February 2015, the Unique Property Bulletin competition prize is:-
A Nice Note From The Bulletin To One Of Our Readers
This Is Our Modest Prize. Unless Requested, Payment Will Be Made By Cheque.
Competition Hint
“Anything In Common Founder”
Can You Name This Unique Property ?
The first correct entry for the name of unique property – out of the hat – wins the prize.
PLEASE NOTE: The prize is NOT the building, just the £50. Sorry we haven’t reached the level of prize value that enables real buildings to be awarded to winners. Yet!
For our previous competition in November/December 2014 we featured the MOST obscure unique building that we could find. The reckoning was that nobody would manage a correct answer. We even featured the pre-renovation photo. But still there were 4 correct entries!
Our conclusion? There is now a very substantial knowledge base amongst our readers that pretty much covers most of the UK. In a Feature Article soon to be published in the Bulletin we shall see if there is any way our philosophy of sharing details and news of unusual property between readers can be expanded in to help those who are actively on the hot trail of finding and securing their dream home. However, for now and this competition, we have had to halve our prize fund as it is looking a little dry with all of the very well informed readers winning each round. Even so, we hope it still appeals to those that enjoy this element of our publication.
Best wishes and good luck from the Unique Property Bulletin Team
Free to enter. Just let us know have your competition answer by 28th February 2015. Email free entries to:-
Unique Property Bulletin Competition Entry Contact Page
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Architecturally Unique
Please note, each week we feature the work of a unique architect. These properties are NOT generally for sale, but are included to help inspire readers as to the talent that abounds when a good architect’s mind meets the imagination of a unique property person, and something that little bit special is created by the synergy.
London Laundry House Project
This One Is For Sale
The London Laundry House Project, Asylum Road, Peckham, London, SE15 2RL
This exceptional 4-bedroom timber-framed house with a private rear garden is one of a pair designed by the renowned Quay 2c architects that has recently been completed.
The property is situated on a quiet residential area close to Queen’s Road, Peckham Station, London, in an area that is becoming well-known for its rich array of architect-designed houses (including a Stephen Lawrence Prize-winning residence by Duggan Morris and an amazing conversion of a milk depot, also by Quay 2c).
Unusually this edition’s Unique Architect’s project is not just for inspiration, but is actually for sale: via…
Click Here For Online Brochure
Guide: £825,000
Contact: The Modern House Company Tel: 020 7704 3504
Though it kind of jumped off the page as our Unique Architect of this edition…
Quay2C
… have made a very interesting transformational project.
Architect’s Narrative: Previously there was an old laundry to the back of site which introduced a ghost of a theme to the project. The new buildings by definition wished to defer to the host house and the garden so a certain ghost like presence was sought. Similarly it is proposed to build in solid laminated timber panels with a camaru timber finned cladding and green roof to suit the garden location, with the pavilion room being clad in printed glass panels with a flavour of the laundry use.
Click Here For Unique Architect Designs For This Completed Project
Further Details:-
Quay2c
2c Kings Grove, Peckham, London SE 15 2NB
Tel: 0207 771 1600
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Try Before You Buy
The property included within the try-before-you-buy section of the Unique Property Bulletin – is NOT for sale. Our endeavour is to provide a sample, and actual experience of what it would be like to live in any particular genre of unusual abode. This specific listing is for a short-stay break. Our offering for this edition is:-
Robin Hood’s Hut
Robin Hood’s Hut, Halswell, Goathurst, Somerset, TA5 2EW
Approaching Robin Hood’s Hut through the dark wood, you come upon an apparently rustic cottage, with thatched roof and bark-clad door. Once inside, the elegant interior provides a fitting antechamber to the umbrello, from where the view stretches across the Mendip Hills towards the Bristol Channel and the mountains of South Wales beyond.
Guide: Sleeps 2 – 4 nights from £261.00 equivalent to £32.63 per person per night
Click Here For Online Brochure
Contact – The Landmark Trust Tel: 01628 825925
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Unique Property Bulletin Main Article
Feature
The 19th Unique Property Syndicate?
Cabins To Buy [For Resale] From £10,000 Each
Ferry: MV Saturn Approaching The Island Of Arran (c) Unique Property Bulletin
Since 1998 the Bulletin has enabled 18 Unique Property Syndicates. All have been excellent adventures. An ancillary benefit is that 15 made a significant profit, two broke even and one made a loss. Not too bad a batting average. Especially when you cumulatively add up the net surplus which is well in to 6 figures. All around what is basically a hobby about unique places to stay.
This edition we have one of the more unusual of the unusual. Something to stay on the water rather than by it. For the avoidance of doubt each of the cabins is to be owned 100% by the respective syndicate member. Plan A is to resell after having a little excursion and adventure – as has happended with three earlier maritime syndicates.
With this lates one, we are having to structure the possible purchase of this ship in this way due to new Financial Conduct Authority rules. Historically we would normally follow mercantile marine protocol with the 64/64 shares in a UK flagged ship.
Previous experience – based for a substantial part in off Bulletin site careers of members include:-
Earlier Syndicate Success
MV Southsea – Our First Syndicate Purchase Of This Ilk.
This Ship’s Re-Sale After Our Ownership Returned
5 Times The Purchase Price
One of the key elements in purchasing a “proper” ship – rather than a plastic gin-palace of a luxury yacht is you get a LOT more for the money. Usually because of lack of knowledge. These substantial things require a Master Mariner, First Officer, Chief Engineer and Crew. We have these to hand. The secret? Many of our members are retired navy. Bored stiff and want back onto the water with a decent sized ship. When we bought the MV Lochmor, the local town where we had her berthed called us “Dads’ Navy”. Apparently derived with some affection from “Dads’ Army”.
Be that as it may, we all had the requisite merchant navy qualifying “tickets” and many adventures were also enjoyed.
Earlier Syndicate Success
The Ferry: MV Lochmor – Our Second Syndicate Purchase Of This Genre.
On This Ship’s Re-Sale After Our Ownership We
Returned Exactly Double The Purchase Price
To paraphrase a famous Para Handy mariner, the MV Lochmor was “just sublime”. A fine wee ship. Much fun had on this vessel. A real heartbreaking wrench to sell, and there was a long discussion about keeping her long-term under the Mega-Yacht certification rules [Now: Super-Yacht Regs].
However, the chap from the Aran Islands off of Ireland made an offer we couldn’t refuse and another ship was bound to come along for sale from this good stable of government owned and very well maintained vessels.
MV Lochmor – Starting The Engines After Lay-up (c) Russ Mclean
Notwithstanding this, and for the sake of good form we have to mention that the third syndicate that floated [on the water, not the plc] was the single ONE of the 18 syndicates that lost some money. Fortunately the surpluses on the previous two ships far outweighed any loss, but we need to mention that it is certainly possible for a syndicate to just break even or make a loss. Though the odds from our experiences over the years are 15 out of 18 to date that Unique Property Syndicates have excelled in returning a handsome profit. The lesson we learnt from the third marine syndicate pilot vessel was not to buy a fibreglass boat for syndicates. With a metal hull, the worst case scenario is the scrap value brings back most of what has been expended, if not more. In fact with MV Southsea we had legally sealed the deal with the administrative receiver selling the ship to us, and within 48 hours a scrap dealer offered our syndicate double the money. The ship was worth a lot more so we said thanks but no thanks, and as history has it, the end result was a five fold return on that. Plus adventures.
So where are we now?
Well we have just been advised that the same owners of our beloved floating MV Lochmor are selling one of their larger ships: The MV Saturn for around the scrap value. As this is a “live” purchase process we need to be discreet about offer prices, and a lot depends upon what our survey and chief engineer has to say about the vessel.
But at the moment we can invite Bulletin and Syndicate members who fancy a nautical sojourn the opportunity to buy their very own cabin on a proper ship [not a fibreglass toy boat]. Just email – Click Here – for further information.
Starting at £10,000 for a standard cabin and £15,000 for one of the deck department cabins.
What happens if our syndicate ends up buying MV Saturn?
Firstly a lot of interesting things. Not many people get to own a real ship. It is an amazing experience. Definitely one for the Bucket List. Big ships are magnificent. As mentioned with our MV Lochmor experience even doubling the money was almost not enough for us all to let go, so much was the enjoyment of having friends, Bulletin members, officers and crew enjoy life on the water.
MV Saturn (c) Thomas Nugent
Just imagine the parallel of steam train restoration. Great fun, though you need a rail track to go anywhere. With a ship, especially one that has been maintained to the very high standards British flagged ferries require, you only need water to sail across, and there is plenty of that around the UK.
The established protocol, after some fun, is Plan A/Plan B. That is to consider resale after some sailing in the ship. It has worked well for the previous two ferries, and we believe the MV Saturn may be a good candidate for such consideration for our third ferry. With MV Saturn we already have THREE cabins provisionally sold – if our penultimate offer is accepted [and she comes up to the requisite survey etc]. That is before this feature of the MV Saturn has appeared in the Unique Property Bulletin.
If this potential Unique Property Syndicate Number 19 interests you – and you have specific questions to ask, please feel free to get in touch:-
Click Here For The Unique Property Bulletin Contact Page
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A Selection of Videos From Former Crew & Passengers/Owners:-
Please Click On The Picture Above To Watch The Video
Please Click On The Picture Above To Watch The Video
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MV Saturn Specification
Launched 30 June 1977. Maiden Voyage 2 February 1978
Gross Registered Tonnage: 851
Length: 69.5 m (228 ft)
Beam: 13.8 m (45 ft)
Draft: 2.45 m (8 ft)
Depth: 4 m (13 ft)
Main Engines: 2 x Mirrlees Blackstone 4SCSA 8-cylinder oil engines, 1000 bhp each
Propulsion: 2 x Voith Schneider Propellors.
Speed: Approximately 12 knots
Capacity: 531 passengers, 38 cars.
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Previously on Unique Property Bulletin
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