A CHANCE cropped up this week for a world weary tenant to escape to the country and live the life of Riley in a mini mansion standing in 12 acres of parkland.

Here’s the clincher – the landlords will reduce the rent if you’re up for a spot of decorating.

Battlesden House is owned by the Duke of Bedford’s estate.

It is in a hamlet called Battlesden on the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire border just under five and a half miles from Junction 12 of the M1, ten miles from Milton Keynes.

The main house has five reception rooms plus an orangerie and six bedrooms including a principal suite with two dressing rooms.

One of buildings in the grounds – a converted coach house - plus the annexe attached to the main house provide further rooms including a seventh bedroom. Up to you how you use them.

Battlesden has an interesting history dating back to the 16th century when there was a manor house on the site owned by the family of Lord Bathurst.

The original house was demolished in 1860.

Four years later a new one was built with 40 rooms and a large ballroom.

It cost £70,000 to build but reportedly the owner didn’t like the finished result and in 1885 he sold it to Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford who, on reflection, despite the wonderful views stretching across to the Chilterns, couldn’t have been that keen on the house either because the new (1864) house suffered the same fate as its predecessor.

Following the change of ownership it was largely flattened although the ground floor was initially retained.

It was used as a nursing home during the First World War and an “emergency maternity home” [to use the description in documents held in the county archive] during the Second World War.

What’s there today is built of handmade Luton blue brick around a paved and gravelled courtyard.

It’s on the site of the original stable block and coach house that belonged to the private estate all those years ago.

The agents at Savills say a property on the scale of the present Battlesden House would normally command a rent in the region of £60,000 a year - £5,000 a month.

The grounds were designed by the architect Sir Joseph Paxton, best known for creating Crystal Palace in London.

Claire Pincott in the agency’s letting department which covers Bucks and Berks says her clients are looking for a tenant who will take a pride in the house and spruce it up in return for a rent reduction.

The reciprocal quid pro quo arrangement in the current market is becoming increasing popular with landlords and tenants, says the agent.

She explains: “Any proposed changes to Battlesden would need to be agreed in advance with the property’s owners with some items such as thermal upgrading included as a requirement.

“However the rest is very much up for negotiation.

“We don’t expect any structural changes to form part of the project.

“It will be mostly decoration and modernisation of the existing layout.”

She added: “Tenants are not expected to carry out the work themselves but all contractors would need to hold the relevant professional accreditations and qualifications.

“We’d be expecting the tenants to stay for a term of between five and 20 years.

“Renovations would be carried out at their own expense reflected in the agreed reduction in their rent.

“Given the relative long term nature of the lease, this would probably suit a family looking to move to the area for its schooling yet still be within a relatively short distance of London.

“It’s also likely to appeal to a professional couple who want to move out of the city.”

More news this week:

n Berkeley Homes is launching a new phase of houses this weekend on the Abbey Barn Park development in High Wycombe.

The new designs include a mix of two- and three-storey houses and a choice of interior layouts: some are open plan with combined kitchen/dining/living space or you can opt for a traditional living room and separate kitchen.

All kitchens have integrated Bosch appliances.

All houses have a laundry/utility cupboard for a washer/dryer.

Alongside the Berkeley development is the newly created country park covering 34 acres with fitness trail, orchards, sports pitches, play areas and mature woodland.

Prices for a two-bed from £375,000.

n Fifty per cent of the apartments in the first phase of Shanly Homes’ waterfront development in Maidenhead have sold since the Beaconsfield-based developer opened a show home.

Underground parking with electrical charging points in some spaces are among the attractions.

One beds start at £300,000, two-beds from £350,000. Help to Buy is available.

There will also be three beds but no prices yet for these.

Sales director Matthew Brazier reports: “Buyers are flocking from London looking for contemporary homes that are well connected to the city and close to the amenities they would have had in London such as shops, bars, restaurants and a gym.”

The train station is within walking distance.

Direct service to Paddington takes 19 minutes.

Crossrail is scheduled for next year.