Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens involved acquiring a fully tenanted freehold block of seven flats in Chatham at auction.

Unlike projects where value is created primarily through extensive refurbishment, the principal opportunity here was the underlying legal structure. The strategy involved creating individual titles for each of the seven flats before refinancing the completed structure.

Because the block was occupied, I prioritised the tenants’ privacy and minimised unnecessary disruption. This is also why there are limited internal photographs of the property.

One flat became unexpectedly vacant immediately before the purchase completed. This provided an opportunity to undertake a £14,000 refurbishment before returning it to the rental market. A new tenant was secured within one week of the refurbishment being completed.

The title split and refinancing were completed within 174 days of receiving the keys. The property achieved a formal refinance valuation of £945,000.

All seven flats have been retained and remain tenanted as part of my long-term portfolio.

Charles Dickens demonstrates how significant value can be created through legal restructuring and effective execution, even when a property does not require a comprehensive refurbishment programme.