Ashleigh Road, Barnstaple, EX32

Beech Hill is one of Barnstaple's most prestigious properties and provides a great opportunity for those looking for a substantial home with the added bonus of providing a regular income stream from the letting of the rooms contained within. The property is being sold as a Freehold interest.

Beech Hill is located at the top of Ashleigh Road and its elevated position provides commanding views of the town, estuary and countryside beyond. This small enclave has several substantial properties with Beech Hill being one of the largest, having formally been a maternity hospital before being adapted into its current use.  

The main residence on the ground floor has been in converted to a large two-bedroom apartment and has been used as a private residence by the current owner.  There is also a self-contained one-bedroom annex attached to the apartment which is perfect for visiting family and friends or has the potential to be changed into a completely separate dwelling (subject to planning consent) providing additional income stream.  The main residence has its own entrance, parking and garden.  Internally the rooms are grand in scale and need to be viewed to be fully appreciated. The ground floor accommodation easily lends itself to be divided into smaller separate units (subject to planning consent).  The layout and use can be totally flexible to meet any potential purchasers needs and plans.  

The 1st and 2nd floor of Beech Hill has been divided into 10 separate letting rooms with shared bathroom facilities.  It is separate from the ground floor accommodation and is accessed from an entrance on the side of the building. The accommodation is classed as a House in Multiple Occupation (H.M.O) and it is understood that it is registered with the local authority. The HMO license only permits single residency in all the rooms. This could be amended if the amenity provision were to be improved and satisfies the North Devon District Councils space and amenity standards which have been amended in the last 12 months. Details can be provided to interested parties.

The letting rooms have historically brought in an annual income of around £50,000.  There is however room to improve on this with the provision of improved facilities. The rents are inclusive of heating and hot water, Council Tax. There are separate charges for use of the laundry facilities which are located in the boiler/utility room and for individual electricity in the rented rooms.

The property has an integrated fire detection system which has been regularly serviced and maintained. There is a current gas safety certificate (valid until April 2025). The boiler is housed in the boiler room to the rear of the property and is large enough to provide heating and hot water to the whole property.  There is an up-to-date Electrical Installation Condition Report for the HMO section of the property which is valid until 2027. A Fire Risk Assessment has been carried out and a Asbestos survey conducted throughout the premises. The rooms are supplied with beds, basic furniture and cooking facilities in each room which varies depending on size. All of which are all included with the sale.

All the tenancies are on Assured shorthold basis, with some on short, fixed term tenancies and others that have rolled onto periodic tenancies (month by month). There are five deposits registered with a Government approved agencies with all other tenancies not having deposits taken which was the owner’s choice.

Under current regulations there is no need to have an EPC on the letting rooms although purchasers would need to check with the Local Authority how this would alter if they were planning any re-configuration.

Occupants have access to Hot water and heating which is on controlled timers and they individual electric meters in the rooms which are operated with £1 coins which are periodically collected by the owner. There are washing and drying machine facilities in the boiler room which residents purchase £4 tokens to operate. 

Rents range from £80-£125 per week although with improved facilities this could be improved considerably. Based on the existing rents the yield is still 6% and there is scope to improve on this with reconfiguration/conversion (subject to consents) to achieve closer to 10%.

There are a currently a number of rooms (7 in total as of June 2024) that are occupied. 

The Council Tax banding for the whole property is B. Agents note: if the property were to be re-configured into separate self-contained units then the Council Tax assessment will alter and potential purchasers are advised to check with the Local Authority regarding implications.

In brief, Beech Hill is accessed through the gateway of brick rendered piers into the graveled parking area which can accommodate several vehicles for the ground floor accommodation.  It would be possible to provide additional parking provision by landscaping improvements if required.

The main entrance has a covered timber porch leading to a substantive entrance door with light wells to the side and over into the inner porch. A further large door provides access to the main entrance lobby which is carpeted and has a separate stairwell that leads to the first floor and the letting rooms.  This door is currently kept locked.  The MASTER BEDROOM WITH EN-SUITE is located on the left of the entrance way.  Fantastically proportioned room with decorative coving around the high ceilings.  The large, recessed bay window to the front aspect and two frosted windows to the side make this room bright and airy. The room has been cleverly separated to provide an easy access WC and wash hand basin behind a privacy stud wall. This area has vinyl flooring and leads into a separate shower room which has a concertina door.

From the lobby and to the right of the stairwell is a separate WC with wash hand basin. To the right of this is BEDROOM 2 which is a double room with frosted window to side and built-in cupboards in the recesses. These house the main electric consumer unit for the whole of the property.

On the right-hand side of the hallway is the MAIN LIVING ROOM which has two separate entrance doors, having been two separate rooms in in the past. This is a fabulous space, flooded with natural light from the large bay window to the front aspect.  There are two ornate fireplaces (not currently in use) with decorative mantels over, high ceilings with decorative ceiling roses and candelabra light fittings.  The hand-crafted stained-glass window above double doors that lead out into the conservatory and give the room a sense of luxury and create a rainbow of colours in the room. The CONSERVATORY can be found through the stained glassed doors and provides a light and relaxing area to enjoy those sunny days in Devon. Double doors lead out from the conservatory to the rear garden.

There is a separate BATHROOM off the living room which needs to be completed and as such provides a blank canvas to future purchasers and could be re-configured to a study if required.

At the end of the main hallway is the KITCHEN/DINING AREA which has a range of wall and base cabinets, a breakfast bar area with a large seating area overlooking the rear garden. Perfect for family gatherings and entertaining.  The kitchen is in need of updating and again provides an opportunity to design a kitchen dining area that suits you.

The adjacent SUN ROOM 1 also provides further space in which to make a family entertainment area with additional doors to the rear garden and links SUN ROOM 2 which could be used as a utility area to complement any reconfiguration plans. The ANNEX adjoining SUNROOM 2 has currently been utilized by the owners as a guest facility and lends itself for extended families benefitting from its own SHOWER & WC, LIVING AREA and BEDROOM. This could also be converted into a self-contained unit for residential letting or holiday letting subject to the necessary consents.

LETTING ROOMS

These are accessed via a separate side entrance to the main house and has two pathways leading to the communal entrance.  There is a coded panel to the door. Immediately to the right is ROOM 1; which is on the ground floor and is a large open plan room with a hallway leading to a kitchen area with a shower room for the occupant’s sole use.

Stairs lead from the communal entranceway up to the 1st floor where there is a SHOWER & WC room and Room 1A to the left.  ROOM 1A is a double room with a large bay window to the eastern elevation.  To the right of the stairs is ROOM 9 which overlooks the north side of the building and consists of two smaller rooms which combine to provide a bedroom and living space.  Along the corridor is ROOM 4 which is the smallest of the rooms. It is single room and is currently unoccupied. ROOM 2 is a double room overlooking the rear garden with kitchen area.  ROOM 3 is also a large double room which overlooks the front of the property and provides great views of the Barnstaple and beyond.  There is a separate kitchen area off the main living room. ROOM 5 is another large double room overlooking the front of the property with great views and benefits from having a designated kitchen area. A wide stairwell with original newel posts and banister leads to the 2nd floor with stained glassed window on the return, flooding the stairwell with colour. From the 2nd floor landing there is a large SHOWER ROOM & WC on the left side with a further room which houses the main water tanks for the building and also provides access to the ROOF TOP AREA which has a metal rail guard around the viewing platform and provides fantastic long uninterrupted views in all directions.

ROOM 6 is a double room with rear views and designated kitchen area. ROOM 8 is a large double room with front aspect providing great views into Barnstaple and beyond with its elevated positioning and has a designated kitchen area. ROOM 7 is another large double room with front aspect benefitting from those amazing views.

Disclosure

These details are intended to give a fair description only and their accuracy cannot be guaranteed nor are any floor plans (if included) exactly to scale. These details do not constitute part of any offer or contract and are not to be relied upon as statements of representation or fact. Intended purchasers are advised to recheck all measurements before committing to any expense and to verify the legal title of the property from their legal representative. Any contents shown in the images contained within these particulars will not be included in the sale unless otherwise stated or following individual negotiations with the vendor. Northwood have not tested any apparatus, equipment, fixtures or services so cannot confirm that they are in working order and the property is sold on this basis.

Directions- From our offices at 102 Boutport Street head up Bear Street and over the lights intersecting with Alexandra Road and continue for approximately 400m taking the 3rd entrance on the right into Chanters Hill as the road goes up the brow take the first turning on the right into Sowden Lane East turning right at the end. Beech Hill can be found on the left hand side just before the turning into Ashleigh Road.

EPC rating: E. Tenure: Freehold,