THE ROOKERY  at HIGHGATE WORKS

SUITE 1

The original rooflines of the old Highgate Works builders’ yard, half a mile south of Forest Row roundabout, have been retained in a complete rebuilding of the old timber structures that survived for most of the twentieth century.  The accompanying three-dimensional architects’ “axonometric” drawing gives some idea of the attractive development.

“The Rookery” with its black roofs, replaces a large old timber store.  It is built on four discrete levels. It is rated by the Wealden Council for B1 use, that is, office/light industrial.  The lowest level and is now divided into two office spaces.  Suite 1A has its own entrance  (in the shadow to the left of the picture above) and its own entrance lobby.  The green double doors of Suite 1B may be seen to the right in the picture above.  Both units face a field where sheep and lambs peacefully graze.

SUITE 1 comprises entrance lobby corridor and room one (361 sq ft) and room two (348 sq ft) plus fitted kitchen (7ft x 13.5ft =94.50sq ft) with shared gas fired hot water/central heating system.

ENTRANCE & CORRIDOR is 5sq metres (53.8sq ft.) with stairs up to serviced shared toilet accommodation.

UNDERSTAIR CUPBOARD

ROOM 1 is 29.48 square metres or 361 sq ft.

ROOM 2 is 32.41 square metres or 348 sq ft

OFFICE/KITCHEN WIDTH is 9.31 square metres or 94.50 sq ft.

¼ SHARE COMMUNAL AREAS ENTRANCE/TOILETS/STAIRCASE 110 sq ft.

TOTAL RENTED AREA: 53.8sq ft +361 sq ft +348 sq ft + 94.50 sq ft + 110 sq ft= 967.30sq ft

TOTAL RATEABLE AREA: 74.67 sq metres or 803.50 sq ft (entrance and communal areas are rate free).

Serviced area and communal areas/toilets and stairs is 440 sq ft. This is divided up among FOUR office units. That is 110 sq ft. 

INSURANCE

 Norwich Union  provide property insurance as one policy on the whole of Highgate Works.  The premium is divided up among all occupiers and based upon the rental area in square feet of each.  This office insurance is therefore £3.30 per week.  All external repairs and maintenance, toilet and communal area maintenance, central heating, leaf clearance remain the responsibility of the landlord.  The tenant is responsible for all interior decoration.  The office will be newly decorated and carpeted and £600 deposit will be retained to ensure that the premises are returned in the same decorative order at the end of the tenancy.  It must be made clear that at the end of the tenancy this means redecoration, or making good, and it is likely that all or a proportion of the deposit will be forfeit.

Rent is paid three months in advance and paid monthly by standing order.

Property is let by means of a license NOT a lease.

Rent and rates attract VAT.

CAR PARKING

Car parking is £7 per car per week.  Two car spaces are reserved for this office. 

VAT IS PAYABLE ON WHOLE AMOUNT

*Includes 110 sq ft serviced communal areas.   Multiply square metres by 10.76 to arrive at square feet.

 
4 CAR SPACES @ £28 per week is £1456 per annum or £121.33 per month.

 Total rent per month for Suite One with four cars is £1478.06.

Rental includes NO car spaces.  Car spaces are rented @ £7 each per week.

Electricity is measured on a meter that represents exact units consumed. Electricity is billed by Scottish Power.  Each unit (September 2004) is 6.51 pence per unit  PLUS 31.359 pence daily service charge. 

Rubbish collection.  £3.00 pays for one quarter of a 1100 litre green waste bin on wheels.

Gas.  Central heating is shared with Suite 2 on an agreed basis as detailed below.

DEPOSIT

A deposit of £600 is returned if at the end of any agreement the premises are returned in the same decorative condition as at the start of the term.

 SECURITY

Roy Fairbrother, who lives just off site at White Lilacs, only twenty yards away, is the caretaker who locks the gates at night and opens them in the morning. He is never far away.

DECORATIVE ORDER DEPOSIT

It is understood that the deposit is held to ensure that the property is returned in the same decorative order is in most cases forfeited.  Fair (and unfair) wear and tear must be made good, and this includes paintwork and carpets.  Most companies look at the loss of deposit as a very low cost way of paying for carpets and paintwork.

However, the deposit will be gladly refunded in full, if the property is returned in the same condition as it was on the first day you moved in, (this realistically will usually involve quite a bit of restorative effort).

PAYMENT BY STANDING ORDER

An example: If the tenancy starts on January 1^st.  The initial payment (three months’ rent in advance) will cover rent up to the end of March.  First payment by standing order on February 1^st will pay rent for the month of April.

It follows, that if three months’ notice to end the tenancy is given part way through any month, there will be still to pay that part of the final month that matches the rental days in the current month that have just passed.  In other words if you wish a tenancy to end on August 15^th; and you give notice on May 15^th, the rent for 1^st to 15^th August is to be paid either separately or by the standing order that should be paid on 1^st June which pays for the whole of August.  In this case any overpayment of rent will be refunded at the end of the term.

GAS USAGE

The central heating/hot water boiler is shared with Suite 2 on a basis reflecting the fact that the two units have nine radiators.  This may be reviewed at any time to ensure that payment for usage is apportioned on a mutually agreed equitable basis. The gas rate will be charged at the lowest rate possible.  No surcharge will be added to the gas units price although daily standing charges are added as if each unit was being supplied from one boiler.  This charge will go towards costs of servicing the boiler and hot water system. Gas is metered in cubic feet in gas meters, which may be read at any time, positioned in the corridor of Suite 1.

Suite 1 has FIVE radiators.

Suite 2 has FOUR radiators.

Gas is charged 2.729 pence per kilowatt hour.  To arrive at kilowatt hours, multiply gas units (in hundreds of cubic feet) by 30.89.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS RING JOHN GILL AT HIGHGATE

01342 824246