Homeowners in Westbourne, Dorset, claim their flats have become worthless following construction work by a Coffee #1 shop located below their former NatWest bank building. Residents reported noticing damage, including cracked walls and sinking floors, in their apartments, communal corridors, and stairwells starting in February 2024, shortly after the coffee shop began its building work.
Residents described hearing vibrations likened to a "sledgehammer" and suspect that contractors may have damaged the building's supports. The property manager has estimated the total damage across the seven affected flats at approximately £1 million.
One homeowner, Johnny Hainesworth, who purchased his flat with his wife Jasmin in March 2020, stated that surveyors have deemed the property unmortgageable and unrentable due to the damage. The flat, which was valued at £155,000 for sale or £900 per month to rent late last year, is now considered worthless by estate agents due to "evident and significant structural defects." Hainesworth reported that the situation has left them "£200k in the hole" and has overturned their lives.
Another resident, Mark Goad, discovered a large crack in his flat upon returning home from work in February 2024. An anonymous owner reported that damage has caused two potential sales, each valued at £150,000, to fall through after buyers withdrew following property surveys.
Coffee #1 offered residents vouchers for the shop as compensation, a gesture that residents found "insulting." The coffee shop, owned by The Nero Group, has reportedly agreed to a repair plan on a no-fault basis. However, no start date for the repairs has been confirmed, and residents anticipate needing to vacate their homes during the renovation period. The contractor responsible for the building work is believed to be in liquidation.
Property manager Andrew Featherstone indicated that all seven flats may need to be vacated during the repair work, with alternative accommodation to be arranged. He expressed dismay at the situation, noting the prolonged nature of the issue, stating, "A year might have been acceptable – but this has been going on for two and a half years."
Residents have initiated local campaigns, including distributing flyers urging a boycott of the coffee shop until the dispute is resolved. In response, a spokesperson for Coffee #1 stated that the issues were caused by the original contractors and consultants. The company affirmed its commitment to working with all parties to resolve the situation promptly and to the satisfaction of the affected residents.