Focus on.....Commercial Property Repossessions

We do many repossessions during the course of our work but some of you may not know that we do commercial repossessions as well as residential. Our work in this sector is varied with us repossessing many types of property from farms, shops and warehouses to hotels, pubs, guest houses and even a whole industrial estate.
 

As with a residential property repossession we attend with a bailiff and when he has executed his warrant we take over. We take meter readings and liaise with the utility companies, drain down systems, change locks and make the property secure according to our clients instructions. A full schedule of anything left in the property is taken along with photographs. If required we also arrange for clearance of the site and then undertake weekly security visits. 

Water, water everywhere

One of our clients asked us to repossess a cold store unit on an industrial estate. The property had been empty for a little while and we had attended the site in order to obtain quotes for locksmiths, shuttering and alarm security. When we reattended to begin the work it had been raining for two whole days and we arrived to find the site under 3ft of water.

The electric had been turned off some time previously, and therefore caused the problem insofar as the pump that cleared surplus water away from a sump was unable to function. Whilst we ourselves did not have the equipment to deal with the problem we were immediately in contact with a suitable contractor who subsequently pumped 160,000 gallons of water away and then cleared away the tons of mud and sludge that remained.

It's all in a days work.

You Asked Us.......

"What is the strangest job you have ever been asked to do?" 

It has to be the chickens! 

As can probably be imagined we come across all manner of things to be dealt with on a commercial repossession. Normally potential complications are identified on a pre-repossession visit and solutions put in place ready for the day of the repossession. On occasion however, we are not asked to visit the property before the day and we don't know what we will find until we get there. For instance, we were instructed to take possession of a farm that was used for breeding chickens. On arrival the occupier had vacated the property but kindly left behind his stock of several thousand chickens. You have a limited number of options in such an instance but our local Franchise Owner saved the day (and the chickens) by getting them rehomed with another farmer in the region.

Focus on......Commercial Property Repossession

We undertake many repossessions during the course of our work but some of you may not know that we do commercial repossessions as well as residential. Our work in this sector is varied with us repossessing many types of property from farms, shops and warehouses to hotels, pubs, guest houses and even a whole industrial estate.

As with a residential property repossession we attend with a bailiff and when he has executed his warrant we take over. We take meter readings and liaise with the utility companies, drain down systems, change locks and make the property secure according to our clients instructions. A full schedule of anything left in the property is taken along with photographs. If required we also arrange for clearance of the site and then undertake weekly security visits.

All in a days work

As can probably be imagined we come across all manner of things to be dealt with on a commercial repossession. Normally potential complications are identified on a pre-repossession visit and solutions put in place ready for the day of the repossession. On occasion however, we are not asked to visit the property before the day and we don't know what we will find until we get there. For instance, we were instructed to take possession of a farm that was used for breeding chickens. On arrival the occupier had vacated the property but kindly left behind his stock of several thousand chickens. You have a limited number of options in such an instance but our local Franchise Owner saved the day (and the chickens) by getting them rehomed with another farmer in the region.

Similarly, we recently took possession of a livery stable and on this instruction we had visited beforehand. There was no livestock at the property. However, on the day of the repossession when we arrived we were greeted by a fully grown pig, weighing over 20 stone, that had been raised as a pet. Clearly the former occupier was keen to make our job that much harder. Legally the owner had 21 days in which to collect his goods and in the meantime the pig had to be looked after. You cannot move a pig without a carrier licence and our local manager arranged contact with a nearby farmer who was able to move it to his own farm. However, this could not happen until after we had the involvement of a vet, Trading Standards and DEFRA.