Mountjoy builds future with new HQ

A building maintenance company which provides services to local authorities, universities, housing associations, schools and the NHS is relocating its headquarters within Portsmouth.

In a deal through property consultancy Vail Williams, Mountjoy is moving into Fairfield House, Kingston Crescent, close to the ferry port just off the M275.

Mountjoy will be vacating leased units at Mountbatten Business Park, Jackson Close, Farlington, with the aim of having staff in at four-storey Fairfield House in the next two months.

Employing more than 300 staff, the company specialises in high-quality construction, refurbishment, building maintenance and facilities management across the south of England.

In a 10-year lease, the annual rent for 6,890 sq ft over three floors is £110,240 plus vat, equivalent to £16 per sq ft plus vat.

Vail Williams acted for Fairfield House’s owner, a private property investment company.

Oliver Hockley, a surveyor working out of Vail Williams’ Portsmouth office at Lakeside North Harbour, said: “This is thought to be the largest letting of its kind in the city centre since the pandemic and a fit-out is underway by Mountjoy, which has leased part of the ground floor and the entire first and second floors.”

Simon Ingram, Managing Director of Mountjoy, said: “We are delighted to agree the lease at Fairfield House. It was really important for us to find a new office in Portsmouth and this new lease confirms our commitment to investing in the city. It’s great to have the keys and crack on with the refit. We are aiming to move staff in during January.

“The new office will provide an improved working environment for 70 head-office staff including our maintenance helpdesk teams, our building projects team and our central support functions including HR, IT, Finance and Business Development.”

In total Mountjoy employs more than 300 staff, ranging from professional project managers, estimators and quantity surveyors through to skilled tradespeople including carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and roofers.

There are satellite offices in Southampton, Woking, the Isle of Wight and Horsham.

Fairfield House, which has a total of 10,744 sq ft, now has two occupiers – Mountjoy and first aid training provider St John Ambulance.

Through Vail Williams and joint agents Holloway Mitchell, the only office available to lease at Fairfield House is 2,742 sq ft on the third floor. Subject to refurbishment, the quoting rent is £16.50 per sq ft.

London-based solicitors Hamilins LLP represented the landlord and Portsmouth-based Warner Goodman acted for Mountjoy in the property transaction.

Vail Williams is Mountbatten Business Park’s joint agent with LSH; Vail Williams will be marketing units vacated by Mountjoy.