News / Bristol
Temporary consensus over Hamilton House
Tenants facing turbulent times at Hamilton House have been offered some security – in the short-term at least.
The collective of around 200 artists, entrepreneurs, social enterprises and charities were thrown into a turmoil of uncertainty after the building’s custodians, Coexist, were unexpectedly served a vacant possession notice by landlords, Connolly & Callaghan (C&C) last month.
A fraught four weeks of negotiations and meetings followed, as the different parties sought to reach agreement over the future of the community hub by the deadline of Friday, August 11.
is needed now More than ever
At the final hour, a temporary consensus was reached and Coexist and C&C both signed a Tenancy At Will in a bid to buy more time and offer a sense of stability for tenants in the interim.
Passions ran high at a community meeting in Hamilton House, when different parties clashed over the best course of action to secure its future
Under the agreement, Coexist will continue to manage Hamilton House and all residents will be able to carry on operating under the present arrangements.
While this offers reassurance to tenants, many of whom feared they would be turfed out imminently, there is still a long way to go before the future is clear for the collective, and redevelopment of the City Road section of the building remains on the cards.
In a joint statement, the two sides said: “Entering into a Tenancy at Will agreement will allow representatives of C&C, Coexist and the Hamilton House Tenants Action Group (TAG) more time, in the short term, to discuss the future of Hamilton House.
“It is hoped the fact that both parties have signed the agreement will help to reassure occupants of Hamilton House of the commitment that exists on both sides to seeking the best possible outcome for Hamilton House and its community.”
They added that one of the benefits of this agreement is that it removes the time constraints that have added to the pressures of recent negotiations for both parties.
The Tenancy at Will shall be terminated when either a new lease or framework agreement is successfully negotiated between C&C and Coexist, or in the event that agreement is not reached.
Hamilton House Tenants Action Group has formed to help fight for the future of the artistic community hub
Read more: Hamilton House tenants unite
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