what's the difference between a maisonette & ...

[loulou41]

Saw a maisonette and the leasehold is 999 yrs and ground rent is £50. They are both leasehold. I am wondering can you buy your leasehold? Does the ground rent increase every year? Thanks

[PasturesNew]

A maisonette is over 2 floors.
A flat is supposed to only be over 1.

Maisonettes will usually have their own separate and private entrance.
Flats will often share communal entranceways.

Sometimes a house is converted to have a flat on the ground floor and a maisonette on the 1st floor and converted roofspace.

Sometimes you can get what looks like a block of flats of 4 storeys high from the outside and it's actually 2 maisonettes stacked one on top of each other.

[chappers]

Did you mean can you buy the freehold or a share of it, You are already buying the leasehold part of it.
If this is what you mean then maybe if the freehoilder offers it for sale.
The ground rent will probably remain the same there are rules concerning increases, so you won't suddenly get hit with ground rent of £1000 in year two.

[PasturesNew]

Oops, I forgot to read the question didn't I.
I answered the title.

[lil_miss_17]

That's not strictly true. Nowadays:

A maisonette is a flat with it's own private entrance. A flat has a communal entrance with other flats. Maisonettes can be on one level or split level.

[loulou41]

This is the link
Warrington Road, Harrow, HA1

The price seems reasonable for the area, but it looks as if there are two entrances door. I have asked the agent but he does not seem to know. Hubyy is not keen on leasehold. It is nice to know that you are protected with ground rent rise. Thanks for your advice.

[tbs624]

Lots of useful info here: http://www.lease-advice.org/

[tbs624]

Originally Posted by lil_miss_17

That's not strictly true. Nowadays:

A maisonette is a flat with it's own private entrance. A flat has a communal entrance with other flats. Maisonettes can be on one level or split level.

Or if it's called a maisonette but it's on one level then it could just be a flat with its own entrance......

IMO Pasture New's definition is based on the usual understanding of the terms, unless the sales particulars have been drawn up by a newbie estate agent

[beverleyhills]

What the arrangements are for maintaining the external fabric of the building, ie the roof and drains? It can present problems if you have to negotiate shared costs with your neighbour.

What are the arrangements for the buildings insurance?

[motch]

"What's the difference between a maisonette & flat?"

a maisonette shouldn't drop so much in value in the next few years ?

Originally Posted by loulou41

Saw a maisonette and the leasehold is 999 yrs and ground rent is £50. They are both leasehold. I am wondering can you buy your leasehold? Does the ground rent increase every year? Thanks

I live in a maisonette and my ground rent is £10 per year, has been for the last ten years. I also receive £10 so no money actually changes hands.

If the leasehold is 999 years I personally wouldn't bother with trying to buying the freehold.

Check the maintanance agreements, mine is I deal with the exterior walls ie painting them and my neighbour (above) deals with the roof.

I live in a 2 level maisonette - converted from a 4 storey 1900's house.

Building Insurance is like normal house insurance accept it costs a bit more!
(you have to factor in rebuilding both properties if it falls down or fire- I think)

hope that helps a bit

[beecher]

Originally Posted by loulou41

This is the link
Warrington Road, Harrow, HA1

The price seems reasonable for the area, but it looks as if there are two entrances door. I have asked the agent but he does not seem to know. Hubyy is not keen on leasehold. It is nice to know that you are protected with ground rent rise. Thanks for your advice.

From the floor plans it looks as if one of the doors (probably the one on the left in the picture) is for the ground floor flat, with yours being straight onto stairs taking you up to the first floor.

It'd be called a main door flat where I live.

[dmg24]

Originally Posted by beecher

From the floor plans it looks as if one of the doors (probably the one on the left in the picture) is for the ground floor flat, with yours being straight onto stairs taking you up to the first floor.

It'd be called a main door flat where I live.

How do you work out which is the main door flat? :confused: What if both doors look like main doors?