Flat I am interested in sold three times in 4 years

xela_17

I'd also like to post some reassurance. We're looking to move out of our very small house after 18 months as my sister has come to live with us. The previous owners moved out after just over a year because they were having a baby. Neither of these were expected (I assume the baby was unexpected!). I love our house and will be sad to leave but things change. However, I guess if potential buyers did the same research as you they may well come to the conclusion that something is wrong with it.

lush_walrus

I think if I were you I would find out what status the people living in the block are, ie: owners or renters.

Generalisation I know and I am well aware that there are good tennants out there, but generally I have found the problem blocks are the ones where the majority of people living in there are tennants.

Not just in terms of noise, but in terms of looking after communal areas, lobbying to get anything done by building maintainance companies, etc.

That is something definately to check if you are considering this flat and do speak to the neighbours is how good the mainainance company are. It can drive you crazy if they arent.

mmlabbd

Well I promised you I would get back to you with the councils response, and here it is...

Hello,

I've now had a chance to look through our complaints database and can advise you that in the last 5 years we have received no complaints from anyone living at 18 ******* Road.

I have also checked the system for complaints that have been received in the last 5 years about properties in the close vicinity of 18 ******* Road. There are unsubstantiated noise complaints made about:

9 ******* Road (July 2004)
53 *******Road (May 2001)
Unknown ******* Road (May 2002)
38 ******* Road (May 2002)
73 ******* Road (July 2005)
66 ******* Road (Aug 2005)
I hope that this is the information that you need.

Regards

Now bearing in mind that only two of the above are in the same road and none of them are in the same block and the rest are in nearby roads, I'm thinking our initial thoughts may have been wrong? Or maybe not just reported, good of them to get back so quickly though.

mmlabbd

mummytofour

Welllllllll I lived in a flat for 1 yr, in that time, I found out why the bedroom had just been re-decorated? Damp.

We had comunial hot water and heating, which broke down every other week and stayed unfixed for up to 3 weeks at a time.

The matiance charge was over £100 pcm (8 yrs ago) plus all works we had to pay a part of.

On the other hand ppl buy flats often as starting runs on the ladder, but as you so rightly say, the flat is on the market for less than they paid I would prob stay well away.

Claudie

Loads of great advice here - contacting the Council was a really good idea.

I have used this site

http://www.upmystreet.com/

and find it really good. As well as links to the actual property prices, it also gives you community profiles, policing and crime info as well as a link to a chat forum where users discuss the area in question.

Good luck!

meanmachine_2

Wow, so many complaints!

A road full of noisy t*ssers, by the sounds of it.

That would put me off immediately, but I'm funny about noise, having lived next to a bunch of inconsiderate chimpanzees a few years back.

I don't care how cheap a property is - I'd gladly pay a premium for a quiet location and respectable neighbours. But that's just me.

AndrewSmith

I would have to agree with Meanmachine here, the value of a home is not just about rooms sizes and quantity.

Look at the neighbours of that guy on TV who won the lottery, bought a massive mansion house and turned the garden into a quad bike scramble track, and has banger racing on his driveway !!!!!!!

May be a lush house in a fantastic area but I wouldn't want to live within 5 miles of him, let along pay through the nose for the privilage.

Woby_Tide

as the letter says they are all unsubstantiated noise complaints. Bear in mind they could be someone saying a dog is barking loudly during the day or something that to another person isn't a noise. Now you have the numbers at least you can focus and have a poke around those bits and see if anything looks untoward. Also despite what others may say, if number 53, 66 and 76 aren't necessarily going to be close enough to cause you concern, without knowing who complained it's hard to tell(i.e. they might all be semis or terraced and complaints are all direct connections). I honestly think you may be being overly cautious of why it's sold. Most structural items will show up in a proper survey if you are concerned, pay for a fuller one. Likewise maintenance payments will all be declared up front so won't be a reaosn for people to move out.