A PROPERTY in Rhyl which was one of seven set to be auctioned yesterday (July 30) was leased to a homelessness charity a day earlier.
35 River Street (Berwyn Guest House) was leased to Rochdale-based Sanctuary Trust Ltd on July 29.
The Journal has been shown a copy of the lease, which states that Social Value Housing Ltd is the property’s landlord, and Sanctuary Trust Ltd its tenant.
Sanctuary Trust Ltd will pay a rent at the rate of £25,480 per annum for seven years, with a break date set of July 1, 2028.
Per Land Registry, 35 River Street was last sold for £250,000 in December 2023.
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Seven Rhyl properties due to go to auction taken off the market
Social Value Housing’s registered address is 212 Boaler Street, Liverpool - this is the same registered address as Big Help Group, of which Big Help Project is a part.
Big Help Project is currently subject to a Charity Commission inquiry, while Big Help Project Cymru has previously used several properties in Rhyl (on River Street and elsewhere) as temporary accommodation.
The other six properties in Rhyl which were due to be auctioned yesterday, but were withdrawn, are 40, 42, 44 and 48 River Street; 31 Vale Road; and 56 East Parade.
Some of these properties were also used by Big Help Project Cymru.
Another Big Help Group-associated company - Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd, whose registered address is 48 River Street, Rhyl - applied to be struck off and dissolved in April.
Voluntary strike-off action was then suspended a week later after an objection was submitted.
Big Help Project Cymru also lists its registered address as 48 River Street.
Per Companies House, Peter Mitchell is director of companies including Big Help Project, Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd, Big Help Project Cymru, Big Help Group, and Social Value Housing.
Today, Mr Mitchell contacted the Journal, saying that Social Value Housing currently owns all seven of the aforementioned Rhyl properties.
The decision for the other six properties to be withdrawn from this week’s auction, he said, was made by property management company Allsop, which had previously advertised the sites on its website.
He said: “It would be inappropriate for me to comment any further, other than to say our lawyers are now working with Allsop to understand why they made that arbitrary decision.”
In the case of 35 River Street, he added there is a “fully legal, fully signed-off lease in place”.
“Their (Sanctuary Trust Ltd’s) intention, as I understand it, is to do some sort of supported living in Rhyl,” Mr Mitchell said.
Asked why Big Help has vacated the properties in Rhyl which it used, he said: “Times move on, things change, and we just made the decision to step away. Nothing more, nothing less.
“We are not in this game to try and squeeze out money or pressurise people, or be where we’re not wanted. It’s not about how much money we can make; it’s about providing the service.
“We’re not trying to force our services on anyone, in any way, shape or form, so we were happy to move away.
“We were here to try and make a difference. I believe we made a difference for a couple of years. We’re now moving away from North Wales, but we’ve got no agendas. We have nothing to hide.
“I genuinely wish nothing but success to Sanctuary with their work in North Wales.”
The Charity Commission, which regulates registered charities in England and Wales, first engaged with Big Help Project after identifying a significant increase in its reported income.
It then identified concerns regarding trustee decision making, potential unauthorised trustee benefit, and unmanaged conflicts of interest.
Sanctuary Trust Ltd and Allsop were also approached for further comment.
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