The planned RMT strike on 30 March has forced Allsop into moving what would have been its first ballroom auction since the pandemic back to online only.
Allsop had planned to hold the residential sale at the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, SW1.
But the national rail union’s strike action – affecting the 14 rail companies and Network Rail – forced a rethink. Allsop residential partner Richard Adamson (pictured) said the firm explored options to move the date but the venue was either not available or the change of date would have bumped into the Easter holidays.
“We must act in the best interests of clients, which means making it as easy as possible for buyers to access the auction. We would also have struggled to get our own staff to the venue due to the strike,” he said. “Fortunately, we have an established online platform which has proven successful over the past three years.”
Trying to move the date or leaving the decision any longer would also have brought added complications due to regulations around informing leaseholders about the sale of ground rents. In an auction situation, leaseholders would need to be given 28 days’ notice of any change of venue or date for the sale.
Adamson said Allsop still planned to go ahead with ballroom sales in May and June.
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