Hotel owner rejects £3m to house asylum seekers – ‘Would ruin the village’ | UK | News
The owner of a boutique hotel rejected a 3 million £ seven -year -old contract by saying that he would “harm the village”. Samuel Leeds, Cambridgeshire, Willingham House in Willingham as a “attractive” agreement was proposed, but the “arrogant” government refused to be a part of the asylum system. He bought the 34 -year -old hotel in March 2023 and quickly started renovation. As the renovation approached to completion, a company he worked before in June this year approached.
“He wanted to make me an offer to rent the whole building, Leed Leeds said to Express. The company owner said to him, “The Council will pay me and then I can pay you, but I’ll pay you guaranteed rent.” After an oral agreement, the company sent a pre -rental agreement that offers £ 35,000 per month (£ 420,000 a year) for six years and 11 months, despite the government’s commitment to terminating the use of shelter hotels until 2029.
“There is no intention of changing the system or they are arrogant enough to believe that they will be in power again,” Leeds said.
The agreement also contained a FRI (full repair and insurance) rental, so the company will cover all maintenance and repair costs.
However, when Leeds read the contract, he realized that it would contain “vulnerable people ..
Orum I wonder who these people are… If I rent it to the wrong people, it can harm the village, ”he said.
“Literally only ‘vulnerable people’ was said and just when I pressed [the company owner] By phone that he talks about asylum seekers. If I had just signed the contract, it could have been a hotel full of asylum seekers, and I wouldn’t even authorize it. “
Mr. Leeds said that he signed similar contracts without saying that asylum seekers would be hosted there.
“We are currently in a stagnation, we are in the cost of life crisis, and many hotel owners are fighting, so I think they are purchased.”
However, it is not worth it for Mr. Leeds.
Im I put value and honesty for money. I felt that this wasn’t a good idea in my conscience. ”
“This is a beautiful boutique hotel – I think it is more beautiful than my own home. There is a three -acre land. Very strange and just thought that the council will allow it to be used?”
The hotel owner took control of Willingham House last year and paid only £ 1 for the right to purchase later. According to the agreement, a group of Hong Kong investors agreed to sell him for a £ 2 million in 10 years. Meanwhile, Mr. Leeds pays them a monthly rent of £ 6,500.
Before a hotel, the Victoria Mansion served as a village rectory until the beginning of the 1950s, and during the First World War, an English Red Cross hosted the first aid task.
“I think we should provide suitable accommodation for asylum seekers, Leed Leeds added,“ And not to put them in luxury hotels, not to bribe this hotel owners and then harm the economy of these villages.
“I definitely refuse to be a part of it.”
Express contacted the Ministry of Interior for comment.
