Emily

Premier Property Search was asked to help a family in a desperate predicament; their daughter has Cerebral Palsy and were struggling to find a suitable property to rent or buy suitable for the family’s needs.

The brief was a challenge as ideally the family needed to live within a three/five-mile radius of Eastleigh, Hampshire as their daughter Emily’s infrastructure of carers, hospitals, GP and family help were in this focused on this area. Moving further afield was not an option.

Searching for suitable properties and working with a family that has a disabled daughter and therefore ‘special’ requirements was always going to be a challenge. Any suitable property to buy or rent that had the potential, suitable to be adapted for a disabled child that was dependent upon a wheelchair was going to prove difficult. Every doorway, ideally a downstairs bedroom, a wash/wet room, sufficient space for her daily exercises, storage for equipment and space for her 24-hour carer team were all needed too.

Renting a property of the size, within budget and where a landlord would give permission for the property, ideally a single storey bungalow, to be adapted for Emily’s needs was again a challenge that at times seemed not possible. We agreed of course to reinstate any ‘works’ at the end of any tenancy but simply finding the opportunity proved a thankless task in such a confined geographical area.

By chance and luck, having contacted numerous selling agents, a call about a unique ‘off market’ opportunity, that sounded highly appropriate was received. My preliminary viewing of the chalet style property with numerous, practical outbuildings confirmed my suspicions. Our second viewing with Emily and her parents seemed to go very well and confirmed my thoughts that this property had the true potential we were desperately seeking to find.

Without delay, I requested a report and survey from an ‘accommodation specialist’ an architect and planner who specialises in the adaptation of properties for clients with specialist needs and requirements for the disabled.

Having received positive reports and with the full knowledge that the property could work for Emily and her family, negotiations to purchase the property took place and was agreed and successful. Exchange of contracts was in July 2022 and a programme of adaptation and works to make the property suitable is due to start in early September.

‘Without your professional help in searching and securing this highly unique property couldn’t have been done without your help’ was the comment received from Emily's parents. ‘it will transform Emily’s care and lifestyle for life’