UK Charity Shops
Conversations we all wish had never happened
We have have been talking to landlords and estate
agents for ten years. We have had thousand of conversations resulting
in our securing over 200 charity shops.
The following conversations are examples of the
most common form these take
1) The Agents and The Squatters
Week One
Relief Fund: “ Hi there We’ve
seen your empty shop in X St. Is there any chance we can have it
as a short term charity shop. We can take immediate occupation.
This will secure it from squatters and help you with viewings etc”
Agent:: [Stifled Yawn]. “Thanks but no, I don’t
think so. The shop is secure. We’ve got a lot of interest…
If you want to bother, email me a request and I’ll put it
to my clients”
Week Two
Relief Fund: “Hi there did you get
our email? Any response from your client”?
Agent: “Er no not yet. I’ll
remind them. [Obviously hasn’t forwarded it to client].
But it’s almost under offer…
…yes it might take a few weeks for the deal
to be agreed but everyone’s very keen so no there’s
no 1 month window for you to get in and save my clients money on
the rates…”
Week Three
Relief Fund: “ Hi there. Any news”
Agent: “Oh I’m glad you called.
The shop has been squatted. It seems it’s going to take a
couple of weeks to kick them out. Would you be interested in going
in at 6 am with the bailiffs and taking occupation?
Relief Fund: [Stifled Yawn]“ Yes no problem
Just tell us when.
2) The Imminent Deal that never quite happens
Week One
Relief Fund:“ Hi there We’ve
seen your empty shop in X St. Is there any chance we can have it
as a short term charity shop? We can take immediate occupation.
This will secure it from squatters and help you with viewings. yada
yada”
Agent or Landlord: “No there’s
a lot of interest… it’s just gone under offer. It’ll
be done and dusted within a couple of weeks”.
Week Four
Relief Fund: “Hi there. We spoke
about the shop a few weeks ago. Has the deal gone through yet?”
Agent or Landlord: “No not yet. But
everything’s going ahead. It’ll be done and dusted within
a couple of weeks”.
Week Eight
Relief Fund: “Hi there. We spoke
about the shop a few weeks ago. Has the deal gone through yet?
Agent or Landlord: “No not yet. But
everything’s going ahead. It’ll be done and dusted within
a couple of weeks”.
Week Sixteen
Relief Fund: “Hi there. We spoke
about the shop a few weeks ago. Has the deal gone through yet?
Agent or Landlord: “No not yet. But
everything’s going ahead. It’ll be done and dusted within
a couple of weeks. They’re getting planning permission…
No there’s no window for you to occupy on 48 hours notice
and break our rates liability. The planning will be dealt with very
quickly”.
Week Twenty
Relief Fund “Hi there. We spoke about the shop a
few weeks ago. Has the deal gone through yet?
Agent or Landlord “No not yet. But everything’s
going ahead. It’ll be done and dusted within a couple of weeks”.
Week Twenty-Four
Same as above. This time with feeling.
Week Thirty
Relief Fund: “Hi there. We spoke
about the shop a few weeks ago. Has the deal gone through yet?
Agent or Landlord: “No the prospective
tenant has changed their minds / couldn’t get planning [delete
as appropriate].
…. Either “You can
have the shop as it’s costing us a few thousand pa for the
empty rates… shame we didn’t put you in at the outset
as it would have saved us £5000…"
Or “There’s another
party interested…" [cycle starts again].
If they’re lucky the shop is let NINE
months after the first conversation. Whether or not the landlord
was ever made aware of the money saving opportunity remains a mystery.
3) The Way it Could Be
Week One
Relief Fund: “ Hi there We’ve
seen your empty shop in X St. Is there any chance we can have it
as a short term charity shop. We can take immediate occupation.
This will secure it from squatters and help you with viewings etc”
Agent / Landlord: “ Mmm... that might be quite interesting.
It’s under offer but it might take a few weeks to go through…
”Meanwhile we don't want to pay through the
nose for an underpaid security guard to sit watching TV for several
weeks - to hopefully keep squatters out.
“Can you really take occupation quickly?”
Relief Fund: “Yes we can occupy today if you want. Do
you think we’ll have it for longer than one month?
Agent / Landlord: “Yes I expect so.
But if it’s sooner that’s your risk OK? You’ll
move out without squawking?”
Relief Fund: “ Yes. All you need
do is give us 48 hours notice. No squawking.”
Agent / Landlord: “And you really
can move out very quickly? Have you got references
to that effect?”
Relief Fund: “Yep: Here they are”
A day later
Agent / Landlord: “ Thanks. Your references have checked
out OK. In fact they speak quite highly of you. Send me over your
signed agreement and then call me for the keys”
Relief Fund: “ Yesiree boss”
Six weeks later
Agent / Landlord: “ Sorry but we’re
going to have to give you notice. In fact is there anyway you can
leave tomorrow?”
Relief Fund: “ No problems. Luckily
we can leave tomorrow… Do you really want us to give the keys
to the incoming tenants? If so they will need to have ID...
"We will inform all the services and rate dept
of our vacation.
Thank you
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