Use of Loft

welshy_2002

ET1976 wrote: »

I own the upstairs of a converted house and my lease also says something about not using the loft - I can't remember what exactly. There was already a loft hatch in place and the previous owners had left stuff (rubbish) in there when they moved out. Being a rather wary FTB at the time, I thought I should abide by the lease and not enter the loft.

One day I came home from work and the loft hatch was partially open. Needless to say this freaked me out a bit, so I phoned the freeholder (who is the council) to ask if they knew anything about it (although there is no way they could get into the house without me letting them in anyway). They asked me something like "are you sure you didn't just leave it open last time you used the loft", which made it quite clear they were expecting the loft to be in use, so since then I have boarded it and used it.

They are doing roof repairs soon so I will move my stuff out temporarily but I really don't think they are at all bothered about it being used.

Ghosts? :eek:

ET1976

yeah, freaky, never got to the bottom of it. slept with large kitchen knife next to pillow that night...

anyhow, was 7 years ago and nothing wierd ever happend since!

Jomo

PasturesNew wrote: »

Unless the owner decides he can get extra money by sticking a 4th storey on ... obviously very unlikely, very costly, ridiculous, he'd never get permission .... but in theory it is possible.

I think that is very unlikely indeed...

As far as I'm concerned it is my loft and if I sell up I will include it as a perk...why not? It is likely to grab more interest to my flat rather than a flat lower down.

I have full access to it and in the 12 years I've lived here I have had nobody come and ask for access

mlz1413

If you are using a loft space that is not considered part of the flat what happens if it gets ruined?

Say the roof had a loose tile and leaked but you didn't notice until stuff in loft had rotted and started to smell, would it be covered on your house hold insurance? Would you have to remove it all for maintenance company to do repairs?

If you use a space because you can then that's one thing but OP wants to buy this flat because of the space which IMO would only be viable if you have a legal entitlement to use it - and hence insure it.

Jomo

mlz1413 wrote: »

If you are using a loft space that is not considered part of the flat what happens if it gets ruined?

Say the roof had a loose tile and leaked but you didn't notice until stuff in loft had rotted and started to smell, would it be covered on your house hold insurance? Would you have to remove it all for maintenance company to do repairs?

If you use a space because you can then that's one thing but OP wants to buy this flat because of the space which IMO would only be viable if you have a legal entitlement to use it - and hence insure it.

That is a good point to make actually.

Although there isn't anything in my lease about the loft and the area above my flat has been bricked off from the rest of the loft area (there is an access from the communal area as well and no doubt one in the flat next door).

It's an interesting one...

princeofpounds

Happens a lot. It's not demised to your lease, but only you have access.

The loft will not be yours. Freeholder could come in at any time and close it up and maybe ask for compensation for your unauthorised changes.

Jomo

princeofpounds wrote: »

Happens a lot. It's not demised to your lease, but only you have access.

The loft will not be yours. Freeholder could come in at any time and close it up and maybe ask for compensation for your unauthorised changes.

How could the freeholder get in at any time? Surely they cannot just gain access of my property?

CaptainHangover

In my last appartment i had the use of a loft we kept all sorts of stuff in it. It Was really useful for keeping the appartment free of clutter. In a ground floor appartment now and really miss the extra storage space.

However..... the chap next door hung himself in it even though there was blockwork seperating them I never quite fancied using it much again after that!

Moved shortly afterwards...!

ET1976

mlz1413 wrote: »

If you are using a loft space that is not considered part of the flat what happens if it gets ruined?

Say the roof had a loose tile and leaked but you didn't notice until stuff in loft had rotted and started to smell, would it be covered on your house hold insurance? Would you have to remove it all for maintenance company to do repairs?

Personally I would write that stuff off as a bad loss. Would not expect it to be insured, and don't keep anything that really matters up there. Quite happy to remove everything for repairs and for freeholder to close off the loft if they want.

However, I did not buy the place with the expectation of using the loft, unlike OP, so that's a good point from their perspective.

princeofpounds

How could the freeholder get in at any time? Surely they cannot just gain access of my property?

I don't physically mean that they come into the property with hammer and nails, just that they have a right to stop you using it as it belongs to them, not you.