The Brief
Finding a suitably large rental property in a specific location in London that could be adapted to meet the needs of our client is always a challenge. However, when the property search was interrupted by the Covid pandemic and Brexit, it seemed like an almost impossible challenge. Nevertheless, PLG rose to the occasion and created a wonderful home for Saboor and his family. Saboor had suffered a catastrophic injury, making it essential to set up care and therapy for him as soon as possible while allowing him to continue living with his family. The primary requirement was ample space all on one level. Finding such a property to rent in London, with adjacent parking, is never straightforward.
The Challenge
During one of the lockdowns, a property became available for rent that PLG’s James Bovey thought might meet the needs. At the time, the national lockdown was in place, with talk of restrictions being lifted. As such, all initial investigations were undertaken via desktop. Following conversations with the agent, they visited the property and provided a virtual viewing.
Both PLG and Saboor’s father felt the property had potential, so we arranged to view the property on the day the restrictions were lifted. After a successful viewing, the next step was to commence negotiations with the agents. This included advising on the necessary adaptations, and subsequently, the landlords raised a number of queries.
It was clear that the landlords were understanding of Saboor’s position but required reassurances as they had recently renovated the property and installed underfloor heating. This is something we always prepare for, and we arranged for PLG to meet with them at the property to review and provide the reassurances needed.
The Solution
During a visit, our architectural team devised a clever plan to build a room within a room, ensuring that the underfloor heating would not be disrupted. In one of the spacious downstairs rooms, we created a wet room with a hoist that connected to the bedroom, providing superb en-suite accommodation on the ground floor as well as therapy space for Saboor while accommodating the landlord’s concerns.
In addition to the internal adaptations undertaken, external works were also carried out to provide additional parking to the front elevation with level access to the main entrance. At the rear, level access to the garden was also provided in a timely manner. This resulted in Saboor having the necessary facilities and unrestricted access throughout the ground floor of his home, with ample room remaining in the property for the family to accommodate.
The Impact
The successful adaptation of the property allowed Saboor to enjoy a fully accessible and comfortable living environment. The extensive modifications ensured that Saboor could navigate his home with ease and access essential facilities, including a therapy space and wet room, without compromising on comfort for his family. The property provided not only the required functionality but also a welcoming and accommodating space for Saboor and his loved ones, ensuring that they could all live together comfortably.
