Council Sells House, Accidentally Includes School Worth Millions

Birmingham City Council is pursuing legal action to regain ownership of George Dixon Primary School, which was mistakenly included in the sale of a £395,000 house in 2013. The error occurred when the buyer's solicitor used the wrong type of contract, a TR1 form, which transferred all property registered under a specific land registry number, rather than a TP1 form, which would have transferred only a portion.

Conveyancing Error

The property in question was a three-bedroom house on Fountain Road in Edgbaston, which backed onto the school's playing fields. The house had originally been a caretaker's cottage, later converted into a family home, and then used by the council as a children's home before being closed and sold at auction. Sukhjit Bains, through his care home company NH Care Ltd, purchased the house. The council's conveyancer reportedly failed to notice the error in the documentation.

Discovery and Legal Action

The mistake remained undiscovered for a decade. It came to light on April 12, 2024, when George Dixon Primary School began investigating the process of applying for academy status and discovered they did not legally own the building. The council then contacted Mr. Bains to rectify the situation. Initially, Mr. Bains reportedly agreed to return the school, but he later stopped responding to the council and declined to sign the necessary paperwork. The council states they have been unable to contact him since.

Birmingham City Council, which faced bankruptcy issues and criticism for mismanagement in recent years, has now initiated legal proceedings at the High Court in London against NH Care Ltd and Lloyds Bank, the company's lender. The council seeks the formal return of the school property. A legal expert described the situation as an "incredible legal cock-up."

Property Status and Surrounding Issues

Despite the purchase in 2013, the house has remained empty and boarded up, reportedly becoming a hub for antisocial behavior. Neighbours have complained about the property being overrun by