'Shock' as landlord puts entire street up for sale

The Canal and River Trust is selling Dock Road as a single lot

Tenants fear their rents could rise after their charity landlord decided to put a street consisting of about 24 homes up for sale.

Dock Road in Sharpness, Gloucestershire is due to be auctioned on 7 November by the Canal and River Trust, with a guide price of £1.6m.

Resident Amanda Causton described the sale as a “complete shock", adding that a new owner would likely increase rents.

A trust spokesman dismissed this claim and said there "would be no change to the residents’ tenancy agreements".

The street comprises of 12 terrace houses, eight semi-detached and two detached properties, according to property auction house Allsop, which is handling the sale.

It also includes two semi-detached mixed use buildings, a single-storey workshop, three garages and 1.7 acres of vacant land.

The street currently generates £168,000 a year in rent

The street currently generates rents of about £168,000 for the Canal and River Trust.

Ms Causton told the BBC she feared being forced to leave her home.

“It was a complete shock and a real surprise. To know that our future is uncertain is not good,” she sent.

Ms Causton has lived in the street for almost three years and said the trust has not increased the rent in that time.

“We may have to move again. We are not in a position to buy and rents are expensive - we really don’t want to leave if we don’t have to.

“I can’t imagine the rents will stay the same, they will maybe increase in line with private landlords,” Ms Causton said.

The street has a guide price of £1.6m

Richard Joyce, spokesman for the Canal and River Trust, said: "Our intention is that all the cottages will be sold together as a single lot to a single buyer.

“We understand that a change of ownership might seem unsettling, but in practice, whilst there will be a change of owner there won't be a change to our residents' tenancies.”

Mr Joyce added: “Nobody is required to leave their home and the properties will be sold on the same terms as the tenants have in place.

“We will keep in touch with our tenants as the sale progresses."