living in a coach flat above garages

franklee

PasturesNew has nailed the issues IMO. The only thing I can think to add is that often the garages under coach houses don't have electricity so there is some limit to the noise that can be made in them. Damn dark to park and unload the car in during the winter too. Often the surrounding houses back onto the garages with back gates so the kids do run in and out using the space round the garages as an extension of the garden.

mistrihelen

I lived in a coach flat for a while as a renter.

We did it because we'd previously lived in a Victorian house conversion flat and the noise from our neighbours was dreadful because of the lack of sound proofing - so the idea of having no neighbours really appealed. Another positive for us was that we had our own front door, unlike most flats in that area.

The downsides were that some of the garages below us were used by market-stall holders who got up very early to get their stalls out - and it was quite noisy. Also, in this particular case it meant our 'view' was essentially a carpark at the back of some flats. We didn't have any outdoor space, either.

It was okay, I suppose. It was a decent size for a one-bed flat (being over approx four garages, I recall) and I did enjoy the fact we didn't share any walls with neighbours. But I wouldn't buy one.

carefullycautious

Thanks to all for comments especially Pasturenew who was spot on with the 'expensive comment' I have just looked at the advert again and what I thought was the price of 119,000 is actually with the 'homebuy' tag that pushes the price up another 30 % :eek:

So its a no no then

Thank god there are people on this site who can make me think things through. Left to my own devises god knows what I would end up buying, as what appears to be ok obviously isnt.

zappahey

PasturesNew wrote: »

This can be one style:
http://www.mypropertyforsale.co.uk/imgs/adimg/m_22729.jpg

If you're lucky one of those garages is yours ... the other two belong to other householders in the street.

Technically, all of the garages belong to the coach house and they are leased to the surrounding houses, which means that coach house owner has to insure them and get a share from the leaseholders

Thrugelmir

carefullycautious wrote: »

Would love to hear from anyone who lives in a flat above garages, detached no neighbours

What are the pros and cons of such a property

Have been looking at one on right move that is newbuild

Any feedback would be great thanks

After my divorce I did. I bought a one bed above a triple garage. Converted my garage into a large kitchen diner, and added a 2nd bedroom upstairs and rearranged the room layout to comply with building regs. Added a front porch area to gain access to the downstairs from the stairs.

What would you like to know?

carefullycautious

Hi, if you read the above posts did you encounter any of these problems

Thrugelmir

carefullycautious wrote: »

Hi, if you read the above posts did you encounter any of these problems

No issue with construction. Floor will be solid concrete. So no risk of fire spreading from underneath. Both neighbours used their garages for storage only. Noise is minimal. Compared to living in a flat where sound proofing is far far worse. Solid concrete deadens sound.

Lease will state shared maintenance aspects ie party walls. You will have responsiblity for the entire roof.

I was lucky to have 2 car parking spaces in front of my garage on a drive. So conversion of the garage wasnt an issue with the planners.

If you've detailed questions please ask.

But as somewhere to live its great having no neighbours!

carefullycautious

Would the solid concrete floors be standard in a new build. I would have thought that under building regs it would have to be fireproof. I saw another one not long ago that was cheaper than this one. However, it was only a one bed but you did get a garage underneath + garden area. I had the same idea about converting the garage for extra space. Did you have a problem with planning for this?

Thrugelmir

carefullycautious wrote: »

Would the solid concrete floors be standard in a new build. I would have thought that under building regs it would have to be fireproof. I saw another one not long ago that was cheaper than this one. However, it was only a one bed but you did get a garage underneath + garden area. I had the same idea about converting the garage for extra space. Did you have a problem with planning for this?

Yes they would. The concrete is very thick, not a thin layer. Berkeley Homes build their houses with concrete floors. Far more expensive than normal construction with floorboards.

I had a very small garden at the front. My front door was on the other side to the garage doors. My stairs were at one end of the building. So my garage was an L shape.

I was lucky enough to live in a village. I had a green in front of me with the road about 50 feet away behind trees and shrubs. So having a garden the width of 3 garages by 15 ft deep wasnt an issue.

The planners were ok as I had off street parking. The loss of the garage wasnt a problem with them. Also converting from one to 2 bed was considered an improvement.

You need your freeholder to agree to the conversion. This wasnt a problem for me.

carefullycautious

Thanks Thrugelmur for all that info. Food for thought