Charity boss found dead in building he was about to lose due to rent hikes | UK News

A charity boss who “went above and beyond for everyone” has been found dead after a fire at the warehouse he was about to lose.

John Mann, 50, was found at the Burners Lane property in Milton Keynes on Wednesday after a fire believed to have started in a basket set off the smoke alarm overnight.

Margaret Mann, co-founder of the charity and John’s former partner, said: “It’s very, very sad.”

The customer said: “This is a tragic loss of a man who just wanted to do good and a charity that has helped thousands of people as well as the environment.”

“Our hearts go out to John’s children and family. He did everything he could for everyone.”

For two years, John struggled to maintain the furniture reuse scheme after the building’s rent doubled.

It comes after landlord MK Community Foundation, a grant-giving charity and one of the wealthiest in Milton Keynes, ended rent subsidies and increased rents.

“It went from £2,487 a month to £60,000 a year – almost £6,000 a month,” a source told local publication MKCitizen.

The trust’s 2022 email said: “It remains for you to decide whether you want to revert to a full tenancy at a rent of £60,000 per annum… or we will terminate the lease and agree to the disrepair.”

John responded, “Our goal is to provide free and affordable furniture and home goods to help those in need, not to make a ton of money to pay rent.”

As a result of rising rents, Re-use faces the risk of closure after more than 25 years of helping the local community.

One of the area’s first recycling schemes, which began in the late 1990s, included unwanted furniture, household items, school uniforms and winter coats, which were then donated or sold cheaply to former homeless people, single parents and others those in need.

The local council praised the group’s work for “fulfilling all requirements to help those in need, as well as encouraging environmentally friendly recycling and waste reduction.”

A spokesman for the MK Community Foundation said: “We have learned of the passing of John Mann and are deeply shocked and saddened by the news.

“Reuse Community Project MK has been a long-standing tenant of our property at Kiln Farm and we have been pleased to support the group through ongoing and ongoing rent subsidies.

“John’s death will be a great loss for the charity sector and all those supported by Reuse. Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

To see more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: ‘The drunk driver who killed my son should never be allowed to drive again’