Latest news with #ChrisHicks
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE We bought our dream home in Spain for a cut-price £173,000... but there was one catch: It had squatters - and they won't leave
When British ex-pat couple Chris Hicks and Natasha Retzmann first discovered an attractive detached three-bed home in Mallorca for sale for £173,000 they thought their dreams had come true. The pair, originally from Hertfordshire, thought it would be the perfect place to move to from their small island flat as it came with 1.3 acres of land which would allow their burgeoning passion for rescuing Spanish cats. They went ahead with the purchase despite discovering squatters inside, as they were advised the family of four would soon qualify for social housing and move out. But nine months on, Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann have complained the squatters are still inside and have even installed CCTV - meaning they're stuck in their flat with two dogs and 47 cats. Spain 's socialist government imposes strict penalties on homeowners who remove squatters or enter squatted-in properties. Even standing outside can be seen as intimidation. Illegally evicting 'okupas' can result in a jail term of up to three years. Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann first moved to the island from their home in the commuter-belt town of Tring in 2010, initially renting and then buying the two-bed flat they now find themselves stuck in. Chris and Natasha bought their attractive detached three-bed home in Mallorca for £173,000. It would have been more expensive but the property had sitting squatters that had to be removed Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann quickly found they were upset by the living conditions of the island's cats, many of which are stray and often have health problems. They estimate they have since spent more than £60,000 of their own money rescuing some 450 cats, keeping those who are too ill to be adopted in their own home. But with dozens of cats now occupying every room the couple searched for a more spacious property and were seduced by the opportunity to own the beautiful, rural 'finca' mortgage-free for a below-market price. They admit they 'naively' relied on legal advice that the resident squatters should imminently be given social housing and ploughed all their savings into the purchase. But that social housing has failed to materialise and now the squatters are refusing to budge. They have even turned down a cash offer from Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann to move out. The couple now face having to pay a further £10,000 in legal fees to try to evict them through the courts - which could take a further two years. In the meantime, they must continue to pay taxes on both their small flat and the villa as well as the mortgage on their existing flat - meaning they are financially struggling. Mr Hicks, 47, who works as a removals surveyor on the island, said of their dozens of cats: 'We started out rescuing a couple but it's got out of hand. 'The cats in our home all have either eyesight problems or missing limbs - and all are unadoptable. 'There is nobody here who wants to help them. 'People over here are barbaric with animals and we are the only help they can get, this is why we desperately need the Finca but the squatters know that and so does the government.' The couple knew the squatters - a mum, dad and two children - were living in the house when they bought the property but were given legal advice that they were due to be rehoused imminently because they had been on the social housing list for six years. But with no sign of them moving, Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann face being trapped in their flat for two more years due to court backlogs. Ms Retzmann, 48, who runs a cycling clothing shop on the island, said: 'It's been incredibly frustrating. 'It's completely illegal for us to go to our own house, or anybody to go on our behalf, even to stand in front of it could be seen as intimidation. 'Chris walked past and a woman came out and pointed to the fact she'd installed CCTV which is hilarious as it's our property. 'You can see why squatting is a massive problem on the island. 'The fact we're expats 100 per cent counts against us. It's always been a problem getting paperwork approved if you have an English surname. 'We can do nothing except wait for the courts. God forbid with the illegal electricity setup the whole thing goes up in flames. 'And, of course, we can't insure it because of the squatters.' Squatting in Mallorca is widespread - last year alone there were 514 official reports of squatters, with the true number likely to be far higher. Last month, Joan Monjo, Mayor of Santa Margalida, claimed there were 1,500 squatters in his municipality - more than 10 per cent of the area's 13,750 occupants. The mayor said some of the squatters are immigrants who work as street vendors on the beaches. There are also children and workers who don't want to pay rent. He maintained that many of the squatters commit crimes in Santa Margalida. Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann say they have gone out of their way to work with the squatters, even offering to pay their first two months rent on a new property, but have been met with resistance. The local council, which initially backed their plans, is now refusing to return their calls - something they attribute to an anti-expat attitude on the island. Ms Retzmann added: 'We knew the house had squatters in when we bought it and we have tried to work with them in a really friendly way, even offering them money to leave. 'We were quite happy to pay to have them removed in a kind and legal way through the courts. 'But we are having to pay all the taxes and face a massive bill to re-fit it once we do move in because who knows what we will walk into. 'We're still paying a mortgage on a second property for no reason, this apartment could be sold and the money spent to benefit the community and on animal rescue. 'I suppose maybe we were a bit naive,' she said, 'but we did seek legal advice before buying and were told the social services report on the family was damning because they had been on the housing list for six years and the limit is five so they would be moved soon. 'We've tried so hard to work with the local council but the problem is every minute it's delayed it is delaying us from selling our property. 'With all the anti-tourism stuff over here they seem to think every expat wants to buy an amazing house, cut the owner's throat with the offer then spend two weeks a year here but that isn't the case.'
New York Post
14-07-2025
- New York Post
Teacher accused of drugging and sexually abusing dozens of children as young as 2
A Nevada elementary school teacher has admitted to drugging and sexually assaulting dozens of children — including a 2-year-old neighbor, according to police. Taji Hillson, 62, was arrested in Reno on July 2, a day after she penned an apology to a relative who accused her of sexually assaulting her 'throughout her childhood and adulthood,' according to a police report obtained by the Reno Gazette Journal. The now-adult accuser filed a police report in April — proving text messages of the elementary school teacher admitting to 'drugging her and touching her inappropriately,' according to court documents. Advertisement 4 Roy Gomm Elementary School in Nevada. Google St View 4 Roy Gomm Elementary, with a mural of a large tree and welcome sign. Google St View 'The defendant admitted to giving her [the alleged victim] Benadryl to sedate her by sneaking it in her food,' then touching the girl while she slept, police wrote in their report. When interviewed by police on June 25, Hillson allegedly admitted abusing the woman throughout her childhood, continuing when she returned home from college in 2014 — blaming it on how 'she never felt seen and desired to be close to another person,' the court docs said. Advertisement Hillson admitted to inappropriately touching at least a dozen other children — including a 2-year-old neighbor at a local pool within the last few years, police said. She has been charged in two of the cases, police said — stressing that none of those abused appear to be students. 'The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing,' Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks said in a statement, saying that alleged victims include 'a toddler.' Advertisement 'I commend the extraordinary courage of the adult victim who came forward to report this abuse; a brave act that has allowed us to seek justice and protect others from harm.' 4 She has been charged in two of the cases, police said — stressing that none of those abused appear to be students. Syda Productions – Hilson was employed at Roy Gomm Elementary School from 2022 through June 2025, according to the Reno Gazette. Police said there is no evidence that Hillson harmed any students while employed at the school, per the outlet. 4 'The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing,' Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks said in a statement, saying that alleged victims include 'a toddler.' Reno Police Department / Facebook Advertisement She was charged with one count of sexual assault of a child under 14, one count of sexual assault and three counts of lewdness with a child under 14, according to Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) records show. Her bail was set at $5 million.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Palm Beach Housing Crunch Spurs $236 Million Muni Deal for Dorms
(Bloomberg) -- Student housing is so tight at Palm Beach Atlantic University that some applicants have chosen not to enroll. A $235.8 million high-yield bond deal is the school's bet to reverse that trend. Where the Wild Children's Museums Are Billionaire Steve Cohen Wants NY to Expand Taxpayer-Backed Ferry The Economic Benefits of Paying Workers to Move At London's New Design Museum, Visitors Get Hands-On Access LA City Council Passes Budget That Trims Police, Fire Spending Palm Beach County will issue the muni bonds on behalf of an arm of Provident Resources Group, an organization that specializes in student housing. Proceeds of the debt will finance the construction of roughly 275 housing units with 990 beds at the Christian college in West Palm Beach, Florida. The deal includes $212.7 million in senior revenue bonds and $23.1 million in subordinate bonds. Both series will include securities with a 40-year tenor, reaching maturity in 2065, according to preliminary offering documents. The debt is expected to price on June 4, and proceeds will fund student housing and a suite of campus amenities, including a dining hall, a health and recreational center with cardio and circuit floors, a weight room and a golf simulator. The project also includes a nine-story parking garage with 740 spaces for students, faculty and staff. Palm Beach Atlantic is investing $9 million of its own funds at the start of the project. Construction begins in June and is expected to wrap between July and August of 2027, according to bond documents. Gilbane Development Company is the real estate developer, while Gilbane Building Company will be handling the construction. JPMorgan is underwriting the deal. An entity associated with Provident will repay the bonds using lease payments from the university tied to the dining, parking and wellness facilities. Rent from students will back the housing portion. 'Blending those two together gets you a stronger projection and the ability to more accurately project cash flows for the long haul,' said Provident President Chris Hicks. Enrollment Pressures Palm Beach Atlantic University was founded in 1968 as a Christian liberal arts college. Full-time undergraduates between the ages of 17 and 20 are generally required to live on campus. But applicants unable to secure housing often withdraw, a challenge the university expects to intensify under a new policy taking effect this fall that raises the on-campus housing requirement to 21, offering documents say. 'There is a significant growth among enrollment at Southern schools, and you can't grow enrollment unless you have a place to put these kids,' said Jennifer Johnston, a senior vice president at Franklin Templeton. 'We're definitely seeing an increase in student housing balances in general.' Palm Beach Atlantic has seen a more than 500% increase in undergraduate applications since 2019, according to bond documents. Competition among universities is also fueling the debt boom. 'You need to have nice facilities, and that's what's driven up so much of this debt issuance for universities in general,' Johnston added. The university currently leases off-campus beds, but that hasn't been enough to meet demand. For the 2025-2026 academic year, it anticipates a shortfall of 456 beds, per the bond documents. Following the construction of the new residence project, undergraduate housing capacity is set to increase by 41%, about 2,217 beds. Many off-campus options are either too costly or require students to share a bedroom. That problem may worsen as rents in West Palm Beach rise. 'There's no such thing in West Palm Beach as cost-effective housing,' Hicks said. As of February 2025, the average rent in the city stood at $2,063, up from $1,972 in April 2024, according to bond documents. The new dormitory's per-bed rent is expected to average $1,152 a month, based on a 12-month lease. For the 2027-2028 academic year, rents for the new units range from $7,752 for a two-bedroom apartment to $8,232 for a unit with an ocean view, per semester. Ratings View Fitch Ratings assigned a BB+ rating to the senior bonds, noting that while the new facilities will enhance student life, their success hinges on continued enrollment momentum, analysts led by Seth Lehman wrote in the report. 'The project has a lot of debt and only a small amount of upfront contributions from the university,' Lehman said in an interview. 'It's a highly leveraged project.' Even so, the university reduces its financial exposure by having Provident as the borrower, he added. The dorms are expected to become a top choice among students. Palm Beach Atlantic University's debt is rated BBB+ by Fitch. The rating stems from the school's 'strategic transformation' from a commuter to a residential university with 'a more national appeal, maintaining its Christian-focused educational mission,' analysts led by Akiko Mitsui said in an April ratings report. The school is also well positioned to benefit from South Florida's evolving economy. As Wall Street firms move operations south, West Palm Beach has gained a reputation as 'Wall Street South,' bringing financial-sector jobs closer to campus. Between 2017 and 2022, a net of 30,000 New York City residents relocated to Florida's Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, transferring $9.2 billion in income, according to the report released April by the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog. YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To Will Small Business Owners Knock Down Trump's Mighty Tariffs? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Seaside hotel and 17th century manor house among Kent's best places to stay
A 17th century manor house and a seaside boutique hotel are among Kent's best places to stay named by The Times. The Times' 2024 edition of The Best Places to Stay in the UK included 100 hotels from across the country, ranging from boutique hotels in the city to large estates in the countryside, rating them on a range of factors from style and design to hospitality. Four hotels in Kent made the list this year, namely The Rose and Updown Farmhouse in Deal, Boys Hall in Ashford, and The Beacon in Tunbridge Wells. Nicknamed 'The Garden of England', Kent is one of the UK's popular home counties, comprising of long stretches of coast and vast areas of countryside, with pockets of quaint villages as well as larger cities like Canterbury. Here's why each of them won: Where? 91 HIgh Street, Deal, Kent, CT14 6ED Rooms start from £110 The Rose Deal didn't only make the list, it was also named winner of the 'Best Boutique Hotel' award this year. The Rose in Deal was also named winner of the 'Best Boutique Hotel' award this year. (Image: Google) Located in the quaint seaside town of Deal, this hotel opened in 2018, created by duo Alex Bagner and Chris Hicks, who converted a former pub into a 'vibrant' eight-bedroomed boutique hotel with a vintage touch. Guests can also grab a drink at the bar as well as the nearby restaurant – The Pelican – which serves a menu of freshly caught seafood with a vibrant and modern sea-inspired décor. Where? Boys Hall Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0LA Rooms start from £189 If you fancy staying somewhere that makes you feel like a character in a classic novel, Boys Hall in Ashford is a history lover's dream. If you fancy staying somewhere that makes you feel like a character in a classic novel, Boys Hall in Ashford is a history lover's dream. (Image: The Lifestyle Collective) This boutique hotel was opened in 2023 within a revamped 17th-century manor house and features opulent rooms, beautiful grounds and scenic views of the Kent countryside. Each of the hotel's nine rooms are furnished with period details and you'll find plenty of cosy spots to curl up – making this spot a great place to visit no matter what season. Each of the hotel's nine rooms are furnished with period details and you'll find plenty of cosy spots to curl up. (Image: The Lifestyle Collective) Where? Tea Garden Lane, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9JH Rooms start from £153 Tunbridge Wells has historically been an area of Kent synonymous with rest and regeneration, due to the spas that were built during the 18th century which made use of the water springs. The Beacon is in some ways a homage to Tunbridge Wells' former glory as a place of relaxation, with this quiet and secluded hilltop hotel and restaurant that offers scenic views of the Spa Valley and surrounding countryside. This quiet and secluded hilltop hotel and restaurant that offers scenic views of the Spa Valley and surrounding countryside. (Image: Lottie Topping) The hotel dates back to the 1890s and played a vital role in hosting Basque survivors of the Guernica bombings. Today guests can visit for its farm-to-table dining, countryside walks and tranquil surroundings for a spot of recharging, whilst being within easy reach of London by car or train. Today guests can visit for its farm-to-table dining, countryside walks and tranquil surroundings for a spot of recharging. (Image: Lottie Topping) Where? Updown Road, Betteshanger, Deal, CT14 OEF Rooms start from £190 This renovated 17th century farmhouse offers countryside charm whilst still being within a short drive of the coast. (Image: Fraser Communications) Another Deal hotel that made the list was Updown Farmhouse, which opened just three years ago in 2022. Located five miles from the Deal coast, this renovated 17th century farmhouse offers countryside charm whilst still being within a short drive of the coast. The restaurant has a strong foodie appeal created by owners Oli Brown and Ruth Leigh, both with prior food experience, who opened the restaurant in the former conservatory, which serves a seasonal menu with a slight Italian flair.
