£350k for flat with bedroom smaller than a prison cell
A TINY flat on sale for £350,000 has a bedroom smaller than shared cells at a neighbouring prison.
The £350,000 flat’s only bedroom measures a measly 10ft 4in by 4ft 8in. Cells in the nearby prison, which inspectors called “cramped”, are more spacious, at 13ft by 8ft 3in.
According to the Housing Act 1985, a bedroom that sleeps one must measure at least 70 sq feet.
The flat’s bedroom is 30 per cent smaller than this at 48 sq feet.
Square Quarters estate agents say that the flat has “lots of character”, describing it as a “charmingly refurbished” apartment in a gated building, just a short walk from major London train station King’s Cross.
It adds: “The property is set over the ground floor of this gated building and offers its own front door, with a lovely living area and open plan highspec kitchen featuring solid beech counter tops and breakfast bar.
“The property also features a lovely mezzanine area which includes the bedroom and snug utilising those gorgeous high ceilings, a recently refurbished, fully tiled bathroom with L-shaped bath and power shower, and enjoys significant extra storage in the loft above the bathroom.”
The advertisement also calls the flat “ideally located” – not mentioning the prison.
In fact, Category B men’s jail HMP Pentonville is just a 10-minute walk from this home.
Inspectors have criticised the prison’s “overcrowded” facilities.
A 2018 report on the living conditions, published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, noted the “cramped conditions in shared cells”.
It added: “A cell shared by two people in HMP Pentonville measured 4m by 2.3m.”
Square Quarters declined to comment.