by David Sands
Galliard Homes this week refused to sell to hired queuers any of the last phase of White House apartments on London’s South Bank. It is converting the former Shell Downstream office building in association with Frogmore Estates and Fairview New Homes.
People were camping outside the sales office to reserve flats for property speculators when the 97-flat final phase was launched on Saturday.
David Jackson, who was being paid £1,000 by his building contractor boss to queue for over a week outside the sales office, said that Galliard told him that his boss would have to join him in the line if he wanted to secure a flat. On hearing the ultimatum, the boss elected to do so and bought a tent for both men to keep out the cold.
Galliard sales manager David Galman said that most of the people queuing were being paid and therefore would not be allowed to buy. “We have told them that they will not secure an apartment because Galliard is selling only to genuine buyers, which we think is only fair.”
When the first one- and two-bedroom flats were put on the market in March, all 98 sold within 48 hours.
Galman denied that the queue outside the building for the last phase was evidence of an overheating market.
“The buyers are being sensible. The paying public are wise enough about prices and there is a level beyond which they won’t pay.”
Most housebuilders agree that, although a ripple of price rises is being felt throughout the UK, excesses are confined to London and the South East. In the West End, a 7.2m2 (78 sq ft) studio flat sold this week for £42,500.
