Illegal Use of Farm Barn as Holiday Home for Six Years due to Lack of Permission

A ‘cramped and contrived’ eight-bedroom farmhouse has been illegally used as a holiday apartment for half a decade before the council caught wind.

The Old Dairy Accommodation in Tillingham, that can go for £725 a night, has been available to let for large groups since as early as 2019.

But the owners of the old barn which can house 16 people had not updated their planning permissions for it to be used commercially.

A decade ago, the historic farm building was designated for seasonal worker accommodation. However, Maldon Council is currently contemplating a change in its usage.

However, the council’s planning officer was concerned there was ‘insufficient evidence as to the need for the development’. 

While the farmhouse is advertised as ‘spacious’ set with a living room and dining area, the council condemned it as ‘cramped and contrived’. 

The council expressed concerns about the imbalance between the number of bedrooms and the communal spaces for socializing and relaxation. Moreover, they pointed out that outdoor gatherings could potentially result in noise disturbances.

Additionally, Maldon District Council emphasized that the farmhouse’s location was not ideal. Situated more than 1km away from the nearest settlement and lacking pedestrian, cycling, or sustainable transportation options, it raised further issues.

The Old Dairy Accommodation in Tillingham has been illegally used as a holiday apartment for up to six years

The old barn, which can go for £725 a night, has been available to let for large groups since as early as 2019

Again, the house has been advertised as ‘conveniently located’, only 44km from London Southend Airport, 34km from Chelmsford Train Station and42 km from Freeport Braintree and Hylands Park.

Bradwell-On-Sea is also 5 minutes by car with beautiful walks and a beach, the owners wrote. 

Parking was also an issue, as without a survey and marked bays, ‘the number of parking spaces available in conjunction with the commercial business is unknown’.

The currently unused gated entrance also compounded an unsuccessful proposal of ‘adequate parking’.

The site is also a ‘working farm’ and home to a business that buys, sells and refurbishes machinery.

A booking.com listing described it as ‘an ideal space for large groups to be comfortable and well rested in this spacious and unique property’.

It continued: ‘Surrounded by beautiful countryside with a secure free parking on site. Traditional village pubs with many serving food or take away’s available near by. Bradwell-On-Sea 5 minutes by car with beautiful walks and a beach.

‘Private space and access to the property located on a working farm with tractors and machinery in operation.

The converted historic farm building was originally agreed to be used as seasonal worker accomodation a decade ago 

‘8 Bedrooms in Total: Rooms 1-4 = Twin beds Rooms 5 & 6 = Double Beds Rooms 7 = Twin Room Room 8 = King Bed. Each bedroom complete with a wardrobe, bedside table, lamp, chair, bedding & towels. Will sleep a total of 16 people.

‘Large living room with sofas, table and a TV ideal space for everyone to be together. Kitchen area is fully equipped with cooker, fridges, dishwasher and utensils plus a washing machine and tumble dryer in the utility room.

‘Courtyard: A large private courtyard ideal for eating/drinking outside in the summer. 

‘Guest access: Easy private access at the front of the building with plenty of parking spaces for cars, vans or buses on site and around the local area.

‘Other things to note: The Old Dairy Accommodation is located on a working farm with big machinery operating and a repair workshop near by. During the week from Monday to Friday 8am-6pm there will be people working on the farm.’

This revelation comes only days after a man in North Wales was ordered to knock down his illegal £500-a-night luxury party barn.

Owner Karl Jones, who converted the building in Penisarwaun, a tiny hamlet in the heart of the North Wales countryside which has stunning views of Mount Snowdon, without permission, was refused approval retrospectively in December after councillors said it would send ‘the wrong message’. 

Mr Jones has been ordered to stop letting the £500-a-night Gwynedd holiday home out and must now brick up the 18ft windows and return the property to its initial state.

Residents and councillors have been united in their battle against the modern property, which they said was not in keeping with the rest of the Welsh village of Penisarwaun, in Gwynedd 

Pictured is the interior of the holiday home, which features double beds on both floors and a bath tub upstairs

The conversion sparked outrage from locals, who told how they could see renters sprawled out on the sofa in the buff through the giant window

Neighbours say the peace of the Welsh hamlet has been shattered by guests using the hot tub and walking around naked

But exasperated neighbours are fearing the ‘hell’ of the rowdy holiday home, which features two double beds, an outdoor hot tub and a huge living room, will continue. 

Influencer-type holidaymakers have been accused of cavorting both in the outdoor hot tub and inside, which neighbours can see through the ‘horrendous’ window.  

And last year, it was revealed a tenant was subletting her Stratford apartment for as much as £190 a night on AirBnB and booking.com

Ifende Uzoka, a four-time bodybuilding champion and fitness influencer who boasts of yacht trips in Dubai, would be able to make as much as £69,350-a-year despite paying £22,800-a-year (£1,900-a-month) for the one-bedroom apartment.

Landlord Leanne Newton would normally rented out the property to student doctors, teachers and tenants who have been thrown out of their homes but told MailOnline ‘this is the first time in my whole term as a landlord that I’ve ever encountered something like this, it’s gobsmacking’. 

The retired British business owner, who left the UK for France this year, explained that although Uzoka, 34, met the managing agent in person and viewed the flat herself, she never moved in when the contract started in October 2023.

It was the start of a web of lies as she quickly listed the one-bed flat as a two-bed holiday home, sleeping four people, on websites like Booking.com.

Ms Newton, who revealed the dining room has been converted into a second bedroom, said she was even able to make a booking for eight guests. 

Alleged scammer Ifende Uzoka posing on a yacht in Dubai – as she rakes in profits by subletting Leanne Newton’s flat

The property is a one-bedroom flat but Uzoka has converted the dining room into a second bedroom

The dining room in Ms Newton’s flat before it was converted into a second bedroom

Booking.com reviews show the flat has been booked for a minimum of 48 nights when this was discovered last September. One holidaymaker accused Uzoka of cancelling their stay ‘two minutes prior to check-in’.

Another revealed how they booked into a hotel because ‘it was so bad’. Warning people off booking, they wrote: ‘False advertising. Only 2 beds, not 3 as stated.

‘Broken furniture – 3 legged sofa & doors hanging off, wet washing hung up everywhere, tabs [cigarette] ends left, no toilet paper, bad smell in bathroom. Booking.com no help… but I haven’t finished complaining yet & expect a FULL refund. Owners ignored my messages & phonecalls.’

Ms Newton said that when she booked her own flat on Booking.com, she received a message from the ‘Bella Ruiz Team’, suggesting Ifende is using a company to manage the bookings.