The owner of a £3 million Georgian mansion has claimed low-flying planes landing at Heathrow Airport are damaging his manor house.
Daljit Bhail, 54, says the planes are “extremely dangerous” for his 28-room Grade II-listed home in Hounslow, west London, which he rents out on AirBnb.
The 18th-century property sits next to Heathrow’s south runway, and Mr Bhail claims it has been damaged by large gusts of wind. He also believes it has been damaged by ice and frozen sewage from onboard toilets that has fallen from the planes, a claim the airport denies.
“It’s just madness how they treat a listed building, and the planes wake me and guests up at 3am,” the property investor said.
When did you buy that house?
Mr Bhail alleges that low-flying aircraft have caused “vortex damage” to the roof of the mansion, which he bought for £600,000 in 2000.
Ah, so 60 years after the airport started then. Bugger off.
That it’s right by the runway is why it was only £600k…..
Friends used have a similar “mansion”at Gatwick. Great for parties, because no one was going to complain about the noise. But you could actually identify passing aircraft by smell. I think the place was C18th. But the family bought it in the 50’s. Even then, they were under no illusions what they were buying. What do you expect living next to an airfield?
I’m surprised that our diverse friend made no allegation of racism? He’s been badly advised by his legal team.
A couple of years ago there was a very reasonable well suspiciously reasonably priced detatched 3 be with driveway, gardens. In West Drayton. The runway on one side of the fence and the asylum detention centre on the t’other.
I can’t understand why someone would build an 18th century house so close to an airport.
I suppose ‘vortex damage’ can be real. Planes create vortexes; the bigger the plane the more powerful the vortex.
A380s create the biggest vortexes of all, which is why they have to have the most space left behind them in the landing and takeoff sequences. But they’re not much worse than 747s, which have been using Heathrow since 1969.
When did that grifting twat buy that house again?
£3 million Georgian mansion
In his dreams it’s worth £3m. Maybe £2m, if it was £600k 24 years ago.
My guess is that he’s been skimping on maintenance for the time he’s owned it and now it needs some serious work doing. Hence the attempt to bilk the airport out of a few quid.
Quite a bargain for an anosmic deaf couple I would have thought. Not many of those about though, I’d imagine.
With Boeing’s recent troubles in building planes that can stay in the air, this guy is lucky a 747 MAX hasn’t landed on his house yet.
Take a senior pol (or his wife) on a gratis shopping trip or treat them to a New York freebie. That’s the way to get it sorted, not bleating to a formerly-serious paper.
I’ve just re-read it.
A 28 room listed building that he’s renting out as presumably several air bnb’s.
I’m going to take an absolute flyer and say that a property that size which only cost £600k might not have been in the greatest structural condition. I also suspect Marius is correct and rather than spending much on upkeep if has merely been sub-divided to maximise his return with major work postponed ……………. until now.
@John
Again I’m only guessing here, but that’s that this house was commandeered by the military during the war. My friends’ was. And it’s amazing what damage the military can do when they get their hands on something.
I think Norman hit the nail pretty squarely with ‘grifting twat’.
Traveling upstream on the Thames at Windsor, The Great Park and Castle are on the left bank and opposite are some palatial houses set in several well groomed acres of garden. Very desirable , except overhead is a constant procession of aircraft so low that it is almost possible to read the makers name on the landing wheel sidewalls. Peaceful it is not.