Homeowners claim flats worthless after building work by coffee shop caused their walls to crack

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Homeowners have claimed their flats are worthless after major building work by a coffee shop underneath caused their walls to crack and floors to sink.

Families living in a former NatWest bank building in Westbourne, Dorset, say they first noticed damage in their apartments, communal corridors and stairwells after Coffee #1 started work below them in February 2024.

They described hearing vibrations through the wall 'like a sledgehammer' and believe the contractors damaged the building's supports, with an estimated damage of £1million across seven flats.

Coffee #1 offered vouchers to the shop as compensation - a move residents branded 'insulting'. 

Some of the occupants are now finding it impossible to sell their homes, with one claiming his property dropped in value from £155,000 to £0 in a matter of months.

Johnny Hainesworth bought his flat with his wife Jasmin in March 2020, using their life savings and the Help to Buy scheme.

They hoped to sell or let the flat to climb the property ladder but surveyors said the damage means it cannot be mortgaged or rented, leaving them '£200,000 in the hole'.

At the end of 2024, the flat was valued at £900-a-month to rent or £155,000 to sell if repairs were completed, but estate agents now say 'evident and significant structural defects' leave the flat worth £0.

He said: 'We have lost everything. Three years of stress. It has overturned our lives.' 

Mr Hainesworth added that the works had created a gap in his floor so large he could smell coffee through it. 

The shop, which is owned by The Nero Group, has agreed to a repairs plan on a no-fault basis but no start date has been confirmed.

Residents will likely have to move out of their homes while the works take place.

It is believed the contractor who carried out the building work is now in liquidation following an investigation.

Mr Hainesworth said he and his wife had spent around £25,000 on a full renovation, including new flooring, a kitchen, bathroom and carpets. 

But they moved out as soon as they could afford to, and were forced to pay extra stamp duty on their new house because the damaged flat counted as a second home, as well as council tax on the empty property.

Mark Goad, who moved in 2016, said he came home from work in February 2024 to find a large crack in his flat.

He added: 'When are they going to act like people and stop making money and sort out what they have done? I love my flat. All I want is a peaceful life.'

Another owner, who wants to remain anonymous, said the damage to her home has scuppered two £150,000 sales.

Her first buyer pulled out after a survey and the second also withdrew, leaving her with an empty flat, bills and solicitor's fees.

She said she has asked Coffee #1 for £10,000 in compensation.

Property manager Andrew Featherstone said Coffee #1 and its advisers visited 'two to three times' to draw up a repair plan agreed by leaseholders but no start date has been confirmed.

He believes all seven flats will have to be emptied during the work, with alternative accommodation arranged.

Mr Featherstone said: 'When the first reports came to me I was horrified.

'Everyone is very frustrated. A year might have been acceptable - but this has been going on for two and a half years.'

Residents are handing out flyers locally calling for a boycott of the coffee shop until the row is resolved.

A spokesperson for Coffee #1 said: 'The issues relating to the residential properties above our Westbourne store were caused by the original contractors and consultants working on the site.

'Our concern and focus is to help the residents affected and we are working urgently with all concerned parties to ensure the situation is resolved to everyone's satisfaction as soon as possible.'