Chapel House Apartments: Sheffield lettings firm Omnia cuts ties with 'with 'Category 1 Hazard' flats

A Sheffield lettings company now ‘has nothing to do with’ a block of flats hit with an improvement notice over a ‘Category 1 Hazard’.
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Joanne Race, owner of Omnia Lettings, said they terminated a deal to find tenants for Chapel House Apartments on Fargate ‘about a month ago’.

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She also ordered the firm’s signage to be removed from above the door, which is adjacent to Paperchase stationery shop.

Chapel House Apartments on Fargate on next to Paperchase in a building called Fargate Court.Chapel House Apartments on Fargate on next to Paperchase in a building called Fargate Court.
Chapel House Apartments on Fargate on next to Paperchase in a building called Fargate Court.

Who issued the notice?

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She spoke out after Sheffield City Council stuck an improvement notice to the door stating it believed a ‘Category 1 Hazard exists at the premises and remedial action is required’.

It has since disappeared. But a council spokeswoman told The Star the enforcement case was still open.

It was issued to owner LRC UK LTD of 9 Chapel Place, London.

The notice was easy to read.The notice was easy to read.
The notice was easy to read.

Mital Patel, the firm’s senior acquisitions and asset manager, said they would be issuing a statement, but have yet to comment.

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Ms Race said Omnia had a verbal ‘tenant find’ agreement with managing agents Home Club GB. But that ended about a month ago.

She added: “There was no particular reason, it didn’t fit with the way we are going. We don’t have anything to do with the building and no control over it.”

The improvement order was no longer visible on the door.The improvement order was no longer visible on the door.
The improvement order was no longer visible on the door.

What is a Category 1 Hazard?

A Category 1 Hazard is defined as having ‘a serious and immediate risk to a person's health and safety’ under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

Failure to comply with a statutory notice could lead to prosecution in magistrates’ court and a fine of up to £30,000.

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Plans to turn part of Fargate Court into apartments were approved in May 2017. But worked stopped that November and stalled for more than six months after asbestos was discovered.

The improvement notice is visible stuck to the door earlier this month.The improvement notice is visible stuck to the door earlier this month.
The improvement notice is visible stuck to the door earlier this month.

The site was shrouded in scaffolding covered in white tarpaulin and included a workers’ compound on Fargate.

It turned Chapel Walk into a gloomy tunnel which saw shopkeepers complain about a drop in trade.

The council served notice to have the scaffolding removed. But before it could be taken down, developer Coyne Group from Dublin went bust, resulting in further delays.

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A new contractor was hired and scaffolding started to come down in February 2020, three years after it went up.

The apartments opened in March 2021. Omnia Space was advertising 48 studio, one, two and three-bed apartments with all inclusive bills. It is aimed at students and professionals.

Home Club GB was approached for comment.

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