THE company which owned a property in Rhyl formerly used as homeless accommodation has been dissolved.
Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd, which, according to Land Registry, bought 40 River Street (Anchor B&B) for £265,000 in November 2022, was dissolved today (November 12) via voluntary strike-off.
Its director, Peter Mitchell, applied for the company to be struck off in April.
Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd filed filleted accounts. According to its balance sheet, on August 31, 2022, it had current assets of £51,143, and net assets of just £3,742.
Despite this, it bought 40 River Street in November 2022 for £265,000 – on Companies House, there is no charge, so it paid for it outright, rather than via a mortgage.
Then, on its 2023 accounts, only motor vehicles were listed as the company’s “tangible fixed assets”.
The registered address of Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd was 48 River Street – which, according to Land Registry, is owned by Big Help Homes CIC. Last month, Big Help Homes CIC was the subject of a winding-up petition sent to the High Court.
Another company under the “Big Help” umbrella, Big Help Project Cymru, previously used seven properties in Rhyl to assist Denbighshire County Council with its provision of emergency accommodation – including 40 River Street.
Mr Mitchell has also held the role of chief executive of a charity called Big Help Project, which is currently subject to a Charity Commission inquiry after a significant increase in its reported income was identified.
In September, he told the Journal that, contrary to what Land Registry states, another of his companies, Social Value Housing, owned all seven properties, and has now agreed to sell them all.
The properties in question are 35, 40, 42, 44, and 48 River Street, 31 Vale Road, and 56 East Parade – all seven were due to be auctioned last summer, but were then withdrawn from auction at short notice.
A Land Registry spokesperson said: “There are currently no pending applications against any of them.
“Properties can be bought, marketed and sold on quickly, but we are not informed until such time as someone makes an application for registration of the transaction.
“So, until we receive an application to update the register with regard to a purchase/new owner, we are unaware of any activity in relation to the title number concerned.”
The UK Government’s website states: “You must register all land or property with HM Land Registry if you’ve bought it, been given it, inherited it, received it in exchange for other property or land, or mortgaged the property.”
Property of a dissolved company in the UK is deemed to be “bona vacantia” (vacant goods) and belong to the Crown.
In August, law firm Berry Smith LLP lodged an application with Land Registry regarding 40 River Street.
The Journal approached Berry Smith in September about this, but the firm said it had no comment to make.
Meanwhile, 35 River Street has been leased out by Social Value Housing to Rochdale-based Sanctuary Trust, which is working with Denbighshire County Council to help a small number of people in homelessness services from this property.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here