- Tiny one-bed one-bathroom shipping container on sale in Stratford
- Container described by agents as ‘testament to luxurious living’
- Home is yards from West Ham’s London Stadium and close to railway links
Those struggling to get onto the London property ladder can now live in a shipping container in Stratford that has gone on the market for £75,000.
The tiny freehold property, which describes itself as a ‘testament to luxurious living’, promises to be a tight squeeze for any new homeowners.
A double bed takes up the width of the studio in photos shared by estate agents, with a beside lamp encroaching on the pillows due to a lack of space.
The tiny home can also fit a sofa and has a cooking area. There is also a bathroom squeezed into the container, whose estate agents promise will provide ‘an unparalleled living experience.’
The Pudding Mill Lane property in Stratford, east London, which is just yards away from West Ham’s London Stadium, has been termed as a ‘rejuvenating atmosphere that enhances your well-being.’
It is also advertised as having good transport links with both Pudding Mill Lane Docklands Light Railway and Bow Road Underground stations within walking distance. It is being listed with estate agents iad UK on Rightmove.
While the container is cheap, it is likely not what most Londoners are looking for.
Research released in early September by Halifax showed that the average deposit for those buying their first home in London was an eye-watering £125,378.
Estate agency Hamptons suggested that young Londoners earning an average wage would have to move 25 miles outside the capital to afford a home.
The property description for the Stratford container reads: ‘Introducing the pinnacle of sustainable living: our low-energy, ESG-compliant 40HQ container house.
‘Utilizing live data and cutting-edge technology, this extraordinary home surpasses government building regulations and exceeds future home standards, delivering an unparalleled living experience.
‘Harnessing the power of live energy data, our container house takes environmental consciousness to new heights.
‘Stay connected and informed as real-time data on energy consumption, air quality, humidity, and temperature are seamlessly integrated into your daily life.
‘Empowered by this knowledge, you can effortlessly make informed decisions and take control of your environmental impact.
‘At the heart of our container house lies world-leading ventilation technology.
‘Embrace a breath of fresh air as the system intelligently circulates and filters, ensuring optimal air quality for you and your loved ones.
‘Say goodbye to stuffy rooms and hello to a rejuvenating atmosphere that enhances your well-being.’
Room for a little one? Cramped home in an old shipping container – just yards away from West Ham’s London Stadium – goes on the market for £75,000
- Tiny one-bed one-bathroom shipping container on sale in Stratford
- Container described by agents as ‘testament to luxurious living’
- Home is yards from West Ham’s London Stadium and close to railway links
Those struggling to get onto the London property ladder can now live in a shipping container in Stratford that has gone on the market for £75,000.
The tiny freehold property, which describes itself as a ‘testament to luxurious living’, promises to be a tight squeeze for any new homeowners.
A double bed takes up the width of the studio in photos shared by estate agents, with a beside lamp encroaching on the pillows due to a lack of space.
The tiny home can also fit a sofa and has a cooking area. There is also a bathroom squeezed into the container, whose estate agents promise will provide ‘an unparalleled living experience.’
The Pudding Mill Lane property in Stratford, east London, which is just yards away from West Ham’s London Stadium, has been termed as a ‘rejuvenating atmosphere that enhances your well-being.’

The tiny shipping container is a stone’s throw away from West Ham’s London Stadium

It is described by agents as having ‘customizable interiors that cater to your unique desires’
It is also advertised as having good transport links with both Pudding Mill Lane Docklands Light Railway and Bow Road Underground stations within walking distance. It is being listed with estate agents iad UK on Rightmove.
While the container is cheap, it is likely not what most Londoners are looking for.
Research released in early September by Halifax showed that the average deposit for those buying their first home in London was an eye-watering £125,378.
Estate agency Hamptons suggested that young Londoners earning an average wage would have to move 25 miles outside the capital to afford a home.
The property description for the Stratford container reads: ‘Introducing the pinnacle of sustainable living: our low-energy, ESG-compliant 40HQ container house.
‘Utilizing live data and cutting-edge technology, this extraordinary home surpasses government building regulations and exceeds future home standards, delivering an unparalleled living experience.
‘Harnessing the power of live energy data, our container house takes environmental consciousness to new heights.

The home can fit a sofa, has a cooking area, and a bathroom squeezed in

‘Say goodbye to stuffy rooms and hello to a rejuvenating atmosphere that enhances your well-being,’ the description for the shipping container reads
‘Stay connected and informed as real-time data on energy consumption, air quality, humidity, and temperature are seamlessly integrated into your daily life.
‘Empowered by this knowledge, you can effortlessly make informed decisions and take control of your environmental impact.
‘At the heart of our container house lies world-leading ventilation technology.
‘Embrace a breath of fresh air as the system intelligently circulates and filters, ensuring optimal air quality for you and your loved ones.
‘Say goodbye to stuffy rooms and hello to a rejuvenating atmosphere that enhances your well-being.’
- Estate agents say an electric car charger is a sought-after property feature
- In a tough market, having one could make a home stand out
- But the just is still out on whether being EV-ready helps boost your house price
Having an electric vehicle charging point on your driveway not only banishes the fear of running out of juice on your way to work, it can boost your home’s desirability, too.
Even with Rishi Sunak changing gear on net zero by postponing the ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles to 2035, estate agents say a home charger is a sought-after feature among buyers and they see the addition of green features becoming even more popular in the future.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points made it into agent Jackson-Stops’s top-ten must-haves for the first time this summer.
Rightmove, meanwhile, said the number of homes listed for sale that mentioned EV chargers was up 40 per cent on last year and 592 per cent since 2019.
In Rightmove’s Greener Homes report, Tim Bannister, director of property science, said that in an increasingly price-sensitive market, homes with green benefits will stand out from their neighbours.
‘There will come a time, not in the too distant future, when more buyers are queuing up for homes with electric charging points and good insulation, instead of seeking out Victorian open fireplaces,’ he says.
But the jury is still out on whether an EV charge point adds value to your property.
The National Association of Property Buyers estimates they add between £3,000 and £5,000 to your home’s price tag, whereas some estate agents say they have yet to see charge points drive up values.
Aside from convenience, there are other benefits to having your own charge point.
James McKemey, head of policy and public affairs at EV charging company Pod Point, says: ‘Using a dedicated charger instead of a standard three-pin plug is much safer and faster for charging your vehicle.
‘A standard domestic socket is only 13 amps, whereas we typically install a 32 amp/7kw charger, which is almost three times faster.
‘A dedicated charger could give you around 28 miles per hour of charging, a standard plug just nine.
‘There’s a safety consideration, too. Domestic 13-amp sockets aren’t made to run at full pelt for hours. It could also impact your wiring by overheating. We’ve seen a lot of burnt-out wiring.’
It’s also cheaper to charge your car at home than using a public charger. If you have smart charging features, you can charge your car when the rate is at its lowest which is usually during the night.
Chargers vary in price from about £300 to upwards of £1,000.
So what affects the price? Cheaper models are unlikely to have installation included, which could cost an extra £400 to £600. An electrician can install it for you or there are companies who specialise in EV points.
More expensive chargers will have features for homeowners who have solar panels.
‘Integrating a home charger with solar power could mean free charging for homeowners
David Martell, founder of charge point manufacturer Andersen EV, says: ‘Integrating a home charger with solar power could mean free charging for homeowners. Compared to using a three-pin plug, the cost of installing a solar-integrated EV charger is typically recouped within a year.’
Homeowners who live in a listed building need to obtain planning permission before attaching a point to the wall.
If you own a flat, rent a home or are a landlord and have off-street parking, you could be eligible for an EV charge point grant, which entitles you to £350 or 75 per cent off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever is lower.
When you’re not using your charge point, you can make a small amount of money by renting it out. Mr Martell explains: ‘The EVIOS One home charger has pin access so you can loan out your driveway to EV users and know exactly how much to bill them.
‘Companies such as JustPark and Co Charger can help with community EV charging by matching drivers with chargers and you can set your own rate.’
PHOENIX — Two large office buildings nestled in the heart of the Camelback Corridor in Phoenix recently sold for $72.1 million.
The two-building property, which combined spans 295,400 square feet, was sold to Presson Corporation, headed by Daryl Burton, according to a press release on Thursday.
Presson Corporation purchased the buildings located at 3131 and 3133 E. Camelback Road from LPC Desert West, the southwest division of Lincoln Property Company.
“The strategies put in place by Lincoln Property Company have ensured his property’s operation at its highest and best levels,” Burton said in the release.
“This acquisition is an exciting opportunity, giving us entry into the Camelback Corridor with a very prominent investment presence.”
How have 3131 and 3133 Camelback evolved over the years?
Under LPC’s ownership, 3131 and 3133 Camelback underwent various renovations, which included its two-story atrium lobby, new furnishings, an on-site coffee bar, restroom upgrades, new front entryway and landscaping.
Additionally, improvements were made to upgrade the buildings to Energy Star, which recognizes top-performing, cost-effective products, homes and buildings.
The complex has maintained a 90% occupancy since it was brought on the market in 1998, according to the release.
The property is about a mile from Biltmore Fashion Park.
“These buildings have been rigorously managed to ensure their stability and continued appeal to the modern office tenant,” LPC Executive Vice President David Krumwiede said in the release.
“Our occupancy and rental rates at 3131 and 3133, along with a great mix of tenants, have made this a highly successful investment for us.”
- PropCast looks at number of homes that are either sold or available by postcode
- It then gives the temperature to indicate how hot or cold a local market is
- We have compared how postcodes and counties have changed since Sep 2022
When it comes to property, most of the leading indicators now suggest that we are in the middle of a shift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market.
Not only are house prices are falling, according to both the Nationwide and Halifax house price indexes, but the latest Rics survey of estate agents suggests that buyer demand and agreed sales continue to fall sharply in the face of higher mortgage rates.
Alongside a fall in housing market activity, the survey suggests house prices remain on a downward trajectory, with surveyors pointing to an acceleration in the pace of decline through August.
Their near-term expectations point to little prospect of any turnaround in the immediate future either.
More than two thirds of those surveyed are seeing declining house prices, with a similar proportion believing further price falls are likely as buyers affordability and confidence remains strained. Roughly half believe prices will be lower next year.
But where there is bad news for home buyers, it usually means there are opportunities for buyers.
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Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former Rics residential chairman, says: ‘What we have been finding on the ground is that fewer but more serious buyers are holding sway, particularly those who are not dependant on mortgage finance and trying to identify the more motivated sellers.
‘There is no doubt either that the recent increased stability in mortgage rates and expectation that we are at, or near, the peak has encouraged some to look at what’s available on the market as those returning from holiday consider selling.’
Are you in a buyer’s or seller’s market?
Ultimately the experience of buyers and sellers will vary depending on the exact area they live in.
New data shared exclusively with This is Money by property advice website, The Advisory, has revealed the hottest and coldest local property markets across Britain, broken down by cities, counties and even postcodes.
While some areas have transformed into buyer’s markets over the past 12 months, there are also plenty of locations where sellers will likely have the upper hand in negotiations.
Its home selling ‘weather forecast,’ PropCast, looks at the proportion of properties in all UK postcodes, which are either for sale, sold or under offer, to determine the buyer demand and how easy or hard it is to sell in each given area.
The lower the proportion of homes either sold or under offer in a given postcode, the colder the market, and the easier it should be for buyers to haggle and bag a discount.
PropCast has measured buyer demand using the temperature metaphor to express a percentage: 100 degrees being the hottest and 0 degrees being the coldest.
For example, the overall temperature for the UK market this month is 41 degrees. It means of all the homes currently listed on the market, 41 per cent are either sold or under offer.
This is down from 43 per cent last month, down from 61 per cent in August last year and down from 65 per cent in August 2021.
However, PropCast enables us to zoom into specific counties and even postcodes to assess the local market.
For example, last September, in Norfolk, 56 per cent of the homes were marked as either sold or under offer. Now only 34 per cent of homes have found a buyer.
In East Riding of Yorkshire the proportion of homes selling has fallen from 55 per cent to 27 per cent.
Certain cities have also seen dramatic market shifts when comparing this September with last year.
For example, in Manchester, this time last year, 52 per cent of homes on the market were listed as either sold or under offer. Now only 24 per cent of homes are either sold or under offer in the city.
Victoria Iddon, branch manager of Bridgfords Estate Agents in Manchester said: ‘Last year when we put a property up for sale, the whole team would have to be on hand knowing the phone would melt.
‘Now, we are back to traditional estate agency where the onus is on the agent to be proactive.
‘Properties are certainly still selling, but you can see a split in the market. Apartments up to £200,000 are selling well and there are a lot of first time buyers driving sales.
‘Properties between £500,000 and £800,000 are taking longer, as upsizers are waiting for better mortgage rates.’
The cities of Ripon, Canterbury and Lincoln have also seen similar swings in market sentiment. Last year, 56 per cent of homes on the market in Ripon were either sold or under offer. Now only 31 per cent of homes on the market have found a buyer.
Rise of micro markets
But even within these cities, micro markets exist that can mean the picture can be very different from one postcode to another.
For example, in the M17 postcode in Greater Manchester, which includes Sale and Salford, a whopping 95 per cent of homes on the market are unsold.
However, nearby M21, which covers the inner suburbs of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Moss Side, Hulme, Old Trafford and Ardwick is very much a seller’s market with 69 per cent of homes under offer.
The gap between the coldest and hottest markets in each given region is remarkably wide.
In the South West, PL23, which covers an area in Plymouth in Devon, is a strong buyer’s market with only 18 per cent of available properties sold.
But in the same region, BS7, a postcode district located in the south-west of the city of Bristol, is an incredibly strong seller’s market at present, with 74 per cent of homes there currently under offer or sold.
In the West Midlands, 19 per cent of the stock in B12 (a postcode area covering the south east portion of inner Birmingham) has currently found a buyer.
Meanwhile, WV12, a postcode area in the Wolverhampton district, including Walsall is red hot with 70 per cent of available stock under offer.
London is a good example of a city that is often seen as one market, when in fact the experience of buyers and sellers will vary from postcode to postcode.
In terms of London as a whole, 35 per cent of homes currently on the market are either sold or under offer. That is a significant change from September last year when 48 per cent of homes had found a buyer.
However, within the capital, there are some postcodes where only 10 per cent of homes on the market are either sold or under offer.
There are also postcodes where almost 60 per cent of homes have found a buyer.
The coldest property markets in London (by postcode) are currently EC2, which includes Shoreditch, Barbican and Liverpool Street, as well as WC2 and W1, which includes a large portion of Central London and includes iconic landmarks such as Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street.
Meanwhile, postcodes such as E17 (Walthomstow), SW14 (Mortlake, Barnes, East Sheen, North Sheen) and E11 ( Leytonstone, Wanstead, Aldersbrook, Snaresbrook, Cann Hall) all remain relatively competitive with close to six in ten homes currently under offer.
Ultimately, while the news predominantly paints a negative picture of the property market, this data suggests the reality could be very different depending on where someone lives.
While buyers in colder markets can potentially haggle and bag themselves a discount, those in the hotter markets may need to take a very different approach.
Buyers looking in locations where sellers are struggling to sell, can feel more confident in offering significantly under the asking price without offending the seller.
The seller and their estate agent are likely to be short of interest and this creates the perfect opportunity to buy at a discount.
It’s worth understanding what buyer demand and house prices are doing in a local area, rather than focusing on the county or country as a whole.
There may still be strong buyer demand or a lack of good quality homes for sale in a specific area, for example.
Top tips for sellers and buyers
That said, according to Gavin Brazg, founder of PropCast they are seeing big drops in demand across most of the UK, pushing locations further towards a buyer’s market.
‘This re-balance means the balance of power is now shifting towards buyers,’ says Brazg, ‘which is why we are seeing house prices stabilising, even falling, with successful negotiations on the rise.
‘This means it’s more important than ever before for sellers to remain realistic about what their home is worth, and choose a good local estate agent who will implement an optimal pricing and marketing strategy. Otherwise, they will find their home will struggle to sell.
The balance of power is now shifting towards buyers
He adds: ‘Buyers may be able to negotiate on price a bit more – something that hasn’t really been possible over the last two and half years.
‘This can help ease the burden of increased mortgage repayments, as can any stamp duty saving.
‘However, demand is still out there, so buyers need to make sure they are ready to move when they’re making their offer.
‘This means having the funds organised, solicitors appointed and all the paperwork in place.
‘Also talk to your buying agent if you have one, or the estate agent if you don’t, to find out how low an offer is acceptable.
‘If you go too low, you run the risk of losing out on your dream home. Being a cash buyer, and being flexible on completion date can often encourage a seller to accept a lower offer too.’
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- EXCLUSIVE: Dave Gilmour and Polly Sampson bought Medine House in 2015
- The couple rebuilt the former Victorian Turkish bathhouse in Hove
Pink Floyd legend David Gilmour has been forced to drop the asking price on his home by an astonishing £5m.
The rock star and and his wife, writer Polly Samson, put their luxury seafront home on sale more than a year ago for an eye-watering £15m.
But with house prices tumbling the couple were this week forced to drastically lower the asking price to £10m.
Neighbours living close to the seafront home in Hove, East Sussex said the couple had struggled to attract attention for the property and had been forced to take action.
Nicknamed ‘Polly’s Folly’, the couple only bought the property in 2015 and launched a lavish rebuild of the former Victorian Turkish bathhouse.
The reconstruction of Medina House sparked fury among residents and historical conservationists when they announced plans to bulldoze the baths.
Gilmour, 77, who is worth an estimated £140million, and Samson, 61, were slammed and their plans branded ‘appalling and disrespectful.’
One group, ‘Save Hove from Property Tycoons’ pinned a message to the building wall reading: ‘We don’t need no demolition, we don’t need no thoughtless plans, no tall dark shadows across our windows. Leave Medina House Alone.
‘Hey Gilmour, leave our hood alone. All in all it’s just another betrayal of us all, to you it’s just another brick in the wall.’
The only surviving building from the famous King’s Esplanade in Hove, the bathhouse first opened in 1894 offering women slipper baths and steam rooms.
The slipper baths were opened for people with no baths at home and were designed to improve hygiene and sanitation.
During the Second World War it saw service as a makeshift hospital, before being turned housing a diamond cutting business.
Interrupted by the Covid pandemic, the building work took years to completeby which time the couple decided it no longer met their needs.
The home boasts five bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open plan sitting room, kitchen and dining room, a library, music room, gym and sauna as well
Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1967, performing on albums such as ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘The Wall’.
He also performs as a solo artist, and is a champion of several environmental causes.
Ms Samson has collaborated with Pink Floyd on a number of songs, and her most recent novel, ‘A Theatre for Dreamers’ (2020) was a bestseller.
The property was reportedly given to the couple in 2015 by the developer Sirus Taghan, who had been denied planning permits on a number of occasions.
The original bathhouse was demolished in 2018, and Keb Garavito Bruhn, a founding partner of the architecture firm Pilbrow & Partners, was brought in to design the residence.
The firm took inspiration from the bathhouse, mimicking its crow-stepped gable, as well as the half-moon shaped window at the top.
In addition, glazed ceramic tiles that were originally part of one of the pools were retained.
The open floor plan has doors to the courtyard, creating an indoor-outdoor space for the family in the summer.
According to Perry Press, the founder of Pereds, the London-based property consultancy, the couple said: ‘The main bedroom, with sea views in all directions, is a beautiful place from which to watch the sunrise and sunset across the sea.’
‘When you wake up in the morning, the view is always a surprise: the sea and sky are never the same. At night, it’s intoxicating to watch from bed the moon reflected in the water.’
Other amenities include hardwood flooring and underfloor heating throughout, polished plaster ceilings and walls, log-burning and gas-operated open fires and a host of sustainability and smart-home features, including a remote-controlled door entry system with biometric fingerprint access, the listing said.
The thought of having a custom closet in his home couldn’t have been farther from entrepreneur Jeff Henderson’s mind. But after his wife’s insistence, a closet designed just for their needs has changed the way he views his home. “I’ll never again live in a home without one!” Henderson said. He felt so strongly about providing custom organization for other families like his that he became the owner and president of Closet Factory DFW, and now the company he leads helps people across the DFW metroplex have the kind of accessible luxury in their own homes he enjoys in his.
Why is everyone talking about custom closets? We have the answers.
What does a custom closet add to your life?
Organization that makes every day easier and creates a more elevated, enjoyable daily life for anyone. Spaces custom-designed to meet your lifestyle help create the kind of day you want to have for yourself and your family. Stepping into your custom closet is a great way to start your day! Closet Factory DFW clients often say things like, “It brought a new life to my closet and style, which I take pride in.”
How does the complimentary design process work?
Closet Factory DFW designers provide free in-home consultations to help clients understand the possibilities for their spaces. Then, these experienced professionals design and present bespoke solutions customized for their client’s storage needs to fit their lifestyle and aesthetic.
Does a dream closet work in a new or older home?
Both. People in all ages of homes have needs for their spaces. In new homes, homeowners often don’t find the storage solutions they need when it comes to their closet. In older homes, closets may need to be added in other spaces, or storage options transformed or updated in another. Whether your home is newer or older, customized storage makes all the difference.
Are these products made locally?
Storage solutions from Closet Factory DFW are designed and manufactured in Grapevine, Texas. From production personnel to installers, every Closet Factory DFW team member is a trusted, experienced professional who is a full-time employee. Community is important to Closet Factory DFW: Through the Closet Factory Cares Bags for Kids program, every project a client starts with Closet Factory DFW means a new, high-quality bag is given to a North Texas child in need — often those in the foster care system — because everyone deserves a place to put their stuff.
Can other spaces in the home be custom designed?
Yes! Closet Factory DFW creates accessible luxury by custom-designing storage solutions for any area of the home, from closets and garages to home offices, entertainment and living areas, mudrooms, pantries, laundry rooms, wall beds, and much more.
Schedule a complimentary in-home design consultation today from Closet Factory DFW. (214) 530-9447 or www.closetfactory.com.
An elderly couple were sentenced this week for fraudulently doctoring a LIM report when selling their North Shore house. Photo / Getty
A former real estate agent and now convicted fraudster once described the charges he faced as a “storm in a teacup”. But the respected 81-year-old businessman is now pondering his deception while serving home detention alongside his elderly wife. Lane Nichols investigates the curious case of the doctored Lim.
A professional couple who feared being stuck with two mortgages deliberately altered a Land Information Memorandum (Lim) report so they could sell their leaky home at full market price and believed they did so with “full knowledge” of their real estate agent, court documents reveal.
The husband, who later became a top-selling agent for the same firm – Barfoot & Thompson – continued to sell houses for a year while facing a fraud charge that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.
But he was forced to fess up to his employer following Herald involvement in 2021, before being cut loose by the company and reported to the industry watchdog, and finally faced justice this week with his co-accused wife.
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During an emotional restorative justice meeting with the victims last year, his wife admitted she had masterminded the deception to avoid losing money on their old house.
“I was really nervous and didn’t want to end up with two houses so we had to sell.
“I wanted to be mortgage-free and thought, ‘I can’t go on like this’.”
She said she regretted her actions but couldn’t reimburse the stiffed buyers – Mark Dansey and Amanda Clough – for their significant lost equity, after they were forced to sell the North Shore home as a leaky property for hundreds of thousands of dollars less than it would otherwise have been worth.
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“If I had the money, I’d give you everything you’re asking for but I can’t,” the wife said.
“I feel wicked, terrible and really bad. It was a bad call and I apologise profusely. I wish I could take it back.”
The husband and wife both pleaded guilty last year to altering a document with intent to deceive and were sentenced on Wednesday to four months’ home detention and six months’ community detention respectively.
They were ordered to pay $55,000 in reparation, despite a valuation showing Dansey and Clough were left nearly $300,000 out of pocket.
And though the couple admitted deliberately falsifying the Lim for personal gain, their names have been permanently suppressed after the husband successfully argued stress from being publicly identified could trigger a catastrophic health condition with lethal consequences.
“I may have a heart attack or a stroke, and die,” he told the judge.
‘Storm in a teacup’
The fraudsters came face-to-face with their victims last August during a restorative justice meeting in Glenfield.
Court documents obtained by the Weekend Herald show the husband and wife were downsizing to become mortgage-free and had gone unconditional on a new property at the time of their offending in 2015.
With settlement approaching, they were desperate to sell their old home to avoid being stuck with two mortgages.
But there was a catch.
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The Lim report had a historic notification warning of “major moisture-related cladding defects”.
Attempts to have the Auckland Council remove the notification had proved unsuccessful and they knew it would put off potential buyers or dramatically affect the value of their major asset.
And besides, the house had always been bone-dry, the wife would later tell Corrections staff preparing a pre-sentencing report.
So they devised a plan. They would simply make the “nasty thing” go away.
The couple ordered an electronic copy of the Lim from the Auckland Council. Using their home computer, they deleted the moisture reference and replaced it with a blank space.
They then forwarded the doctored version to their Barfoot agent Yvonne Wang, and it was subsequently uploaded to the company’s website and made available to prospective buyers.
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Clough, 55, and Dansey, 61, viewed the property on June 22, 2015. Two days later they learned the auction had been brought forward to June 26.
They had less than two days to either commit to the purchase or withdraw from tendering an offer.
The next day, on June 25, they obtained a copy of the report from Barfoot & Thompson’s website and forwarded it to their lawyer as part of their due diligence, a summary of facts says.
Believing the Lim was “full and correct”, the couple purchased the property on June 26 for $1.19 million, “a decision they would not have made had they sighted the original Lim documents”.
Four years later, Clough and Dansey decided to sell the home through Barfoot & Thompson.
Their agents requested a copy of the Lim direct from the Auckland Council and discovered the moisture reference.
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They were shocked to learn their property was leaky and decided to sell it “as is” on July 22, 2019 for a loss, at $1.165 million.
Rocked by the deception, Dansey and Clough went to police.
Incriminating emails from the couple to Wang were uncovered a year later during a warranted police search of their new house and computer.
The emails read: “Just waiting on the Lim to be corrected”, and, “You will be relieved to hear the nasty thing has been removed”.
The couple were charged and put before the court.
They initially denied knowledge of the doctored Lim, with the wife telling police “she believed everyone knew it was a leaky home”.
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The husband later told the Herald the case was a “storm in a teacup”, with the complainants “hell-bent on making life difficult for us”.
His words would come back to bite.
And the case would expose the risk of buyers relying on property documents supplied by vendors or their real estate firm and raise questions of legal liability.
‘She never gave it another thought’
Court documents show the fraud was the wife’s idea and her husband agreed to play along.
“She commented that she thought [the Lim notification] should not have been there, and that they did not want to loose [sic] money on the sale of the house, so removed the wording, informed the real estate agent that it had been remedied, and did not think about the matter again,” the pre-sentencing report states.
“She altered the document because she was feeling desperate and [believed] this was with the full knowledge of her husband and the real estate agent.”
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She confirmed she knew her actions were illegal.
The report said the offending was linked to “entitlement”. The wife had offered “no further remorse”.
In fact, “after the alteration had been done, she never gave it another thought”.
She told Corrections staff she would comply with the sentencing but was “not particularly happy” at the thought of being restricted in her movements.
The couple will complete their sentences in a five-bedroom property just a short walk from the beach and with ocean views over Hauraki Gulf.
It has a CV of $1.35m and was purchased in 2015 with the proceeds of the sale to Dansey and Clough.
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Property records show the defendants made $450,000 in capital gain on their old home in under three years.
During the August meeting, Clough told the wife: “You were able to make this profit by fraudulently removing allegations of water tightness issues from the Lim. You boosted your profit at our expense and left us holding the baby.”
The fraud had far-reaching consequences for Dansey and Clough.
They were forced to sell the property for $25,000 less than paid for it, despite owning it for four years in a rising market.
They had to buy a smaller house in a first-home buyer area on the city fringe, meaning their children could no longer stay.
They had also lost their financial security and faced an uncertain retirement.
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“Our option is to have a mortgage or sell up and move out of Auckland,” Clough told the wife. “I’m so upset to hear you say you have no money as you have spent more than two years paying a lawyer to fight these charges. That money was ours.”
Dansey said: “This has had a long-term emotional impact on us. We are suffering for your blatant fraud. We feel robbed of our peace of mind and of any sense of security about our future.”
‘I’m not going to be able to escape this story’
The accused couple have been fighting for suppression since August 2021 when the Herald learned of the case.
The husband first argued it would be unfair to Barfoot & Thompson if he was named, as the company could suffer adverse publicity by association with his earlier offending.
He feared losing his job and no longer being able to support his family.
At the time, he was yet to tell the company’s senior management about the fraud charge, but was certain Barfoot & Thompson would also want its name kept secret, the court heard.
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However, when that argument failed, the husband took another tack, arguing his bad health meant he was at imminent risk of a fatal heart attack from stress associated with publication of his name.
Submissions filed by the man said he suffered severe ischaemic heart disease.
“Publication of my name will cause me a huge amount of stress and I am worried that my heart will not cope.
“I am not saying I have not broken the law or that I should get name suppression just because I am old, or because I am an otherwise law-abiding citizen.
“I am making this application out of necessity because of my health condition, which has gotten worse since this case started and in the face of intensifying media coverage.”
The man had suffered a stroke last year. A hospital cardiologist remarked he’d “dodged a bullet” and could suffer another stroke “anytime”.
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The thought of being identified “causes me a great deal of stress”.
He said he was a proud man who had worked hard over the years, contributing to charitable and community endeavours.
But he had no doubt media coverage of his sentencing would be “overly adverse to my wife and me”.
“My concern is not just about my family and friends’ reaction to publication, but also my wider circle of acquaintances and the wider public being those who I might deal with in the future.
“I am not going to be able to escape this story.
“If I am exposed to stressful situations, I may have a heart attack or a stroke, and die.
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“I just want to be here as long as I can for my wife and my family in later years.”
No remorse was expressed in the man’s submission for his offending, or its effects on Dansey and Clough.
The Herald opposed the man’s application, arguing he should be named in the interests of open justice and transparency, and on public interest grounds given the case involved manipulation of official property documents by someone who went on to become a real estate agent.
The Crown also opposed suppression, saying stress from the sentencing process was an “ordinary consequence” of the man’s crime.
His lawyer described the offending as “unsophisticated” and motivated by a “genuine and honest belief” that the council record needed to be corrected.
“It is difficult to reconcile this offending with [the man’s] track record and good standing in his community,” she said. “This has been a significant blight on what has otherwise been an exemplary record.”
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However, Crown prosecutor Fiona Culliney said the man’s deception was premeditated and had caused significant financial harm.
It demonstrated “deliberate efforts to deceive innocent buyers as to the true state of the property” and was purely motivated by financial gain.
She said an apology delivered during the restorative justice meeting rang hollow after he cited the principle of “caveat emptor” – or buyer beware.
“No acknowledgement of remorse and effectively blaming the victims for not being more savvy to pick up his fraud.”
Culliney said the case undermined people’s trust in reputable legal documents when buying and selling property.
The man had surrendered his real estate licence but that did not detract from the public interest given “a person holding a real estate licence had previously offended in this way”.
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‘Significant fall from grace’
Defence submissions for the wife suggested her offending “was borne out of panic, poorly thought through and its detection was inevitable”.
Now in her 70s, she had led a “blameless and upstanding life”. A conviction was a “significant fall from grace”.
The woman appeared in the dock wearing a fetching suit and clutching a designer handbag, with brightly painted pink fingernails.
She is yet to tell her employer that she committed fraud.
“There’s nothing novel about this case,” her lawyer told the court. “Two people tried to get away with something and they got caught.”
Clough read a victim impact statement saying she and Dansey were “floored” after learning their home had weather tightness problems.
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The offending had “devastating” impacts on their lives emotionally and financially.
They were forced into a “fire sale” situation due to the home being leaky, with only “bargain hunters” willing to make offers.
“On top of this pressure, we were also dealing with feelings of shock, disbelief, anger, and deep resentment at having to bear the financial consequences of your dishonesty.”
The man’s “storm in a teacup” comments were “hugely offensive and upsetting”.
The defendants’ initial proposed reparation payment of $25,000 was insulting when they had made $450,000 in capital gain.
Clough and Dansey said they could not afford lawyers to pursue civil proceedings against the couple, and were now time-barred.
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“Given the damage we’ve suffered, it is quite beyond our capacity to comprehend that you are planning to walk away from your criminal act and leave us to suffer the consequences of your actions.”
As Clough read her statement, the man scribbled notes and shook his head.
Judge Maria Pecotic said buyers should be able to rely on Lim reports and the couple’s “blatant fraud” had caused enormous harm.
“Once the fraud was discovered you must have realised it would have a detrimental impact on the value of the property.”
The man’s restorative justice meeting with the victims had been “tense and emotional” with “no outcome achieved”.
The judge refused to offer him any discount for remorse, saying “lip service” was not enough.
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“You provided a disclaimer to your apology. It needs to be genuine.”
She sentenced the couple to community-based sentences to reflect their guilty pleas, age, previous good character and failing health, permanently suppressing their names.
‘Strong message’
Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson said the case sent a strong message that those involved in selling property need to be honest in their dealing with potential buyers.
Everyone involved in buying and selling real estate benefited “when the integrity of verbal comments and documentation are not called into question”.
Thompson said while it was not unusual in 2015 for agents across the industry to accept information such as Lim reports from vendors, the company had “for a number of years” since sourced them directly from councils.
The husband alerted the company in 2020 that an investigation was taking place following a complaint relating to activity in 2015 when he was a vendor. He was “strictly supervised” during this period by his branch manager.
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However, a year later in 2021, the man’s contract was terminated when the company learned he was facing a criminal charge and the matter immediately reported to the REA.
Thompson would not comment on Wang while investigations were under way in Australia.
Asked whether the company would accept liability or compensate the victims, he said: “At the time the offence occurred, the person involved was a vendor and a client. He and his wife are the only ones who have been charged and found guilty of a crime.”
Real Estate Authority boss Belinda Moffat urged buyers to commission property inspections by accredited inspectors, conduct title searches and obtain Lim reports directly from local councils, then have the documents reviewed by a lawyer.
Real estate agents were required to disclose information about property defects. A failure to disclose could result in disciplinary action, with fraudulent behaviour referred to appropriate authorities.
“We would hope that instances of criminal fraud, including forgery, are rare, and we encourage agents and vendors to make available relevant information that they hold about a property to buyers.
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“We do however encourage buyers to also do their own homework and ensure that the Lim is current and up to date, and that they commission their own building reports so that they can rely on them.”