Homeowners in Bexhill Receive Demands for Fees Under Revived Restrictive Covenants

Homeowners in Bexhill have received demands for fees ranging from thousands of pounds after a company acquired the land beneath their estate's roads. Asset Invest Ltd purchased 87 titles from Bilton Land Limited on 10 August 2023 for £1 plus VAT. The acquisition granted the company authority to enforce restrictive covenants from the 1960s and 1970s on the former Percy Bilton development.

These covenants were originally established by developers to maintain the estate's character. Over a dozen residents received correspondence in August 2023 informing them that alterations to their properties, such as sheds and extensions, required retrospective approval under the historic deed restrictions. The company stated it is providing a route to regularisation where required.

Stuart Cowley-Wenham, a resident of the estate for 17 years, received a quote of £7,750 for retrospective consent covering fencing, internal wall modifications, an annexe, and a replacement conservatory. These alterations had received council planning approval in 2006.

Cowley-Wenham explained that the annexe was built for his partner's parents with disabilities and that six-foot fencing was installed for rescue dogs, though the deeds specify chain link fencing.

" — Stuart Cowley-Wenham (GB News) Kathy Bernard, a resident for a decade, received a letter regarding an extension and was quoted £11,500. She stated she felt angry and frightened by the demand. Bernard was not attempting to sell her property at the time, and at least nine other recipients were not involved in property transactions.

Asset Invest Ltd is registered to a shared office address in London. Its most recent accounts from November 2025 listed it as dormant with net assets of £1, though it now appears as active. Director Fraser Karlsen told the BBC that the correspondence was sent in response to enquiries from prospective buyers, sellers, lenders, and solicitors, and that the company does not actively operate in this area unless requested.

Karlsen stated the company is addressing administrative matters with HMRC and Companies House regarding its dormant classification. He maintained that all financial figures quoted to residents followed a formal valuation process aligned with Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors guidance. The affected homeowners are obtaining legal counsel to consider their options.

Dr Kieran Mullan, the MP for Bexhill and Battle, has taken up the residents' concerns and is scheduled to meet Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook later this month. Mullan acknowledged that covenants serve a legitimate purpose but noted a potential for firms to exploit the situation. Asset Invest Ltd describes itself on its website as a specialist in land investments throughout the United Kingdom.