re-mortgage

follyfoot

I have an ex-local authority flat which i wish to remortgage. the council have put in double glazings, a communal door and painted the communal area but done nothing to my flat. I understand i have to contribute to some charges but at the moment i have not been told how much this will be although the improvements were done in 2004. I thought i would be told what i was expected to contribute to in 2004? however, if i remortgage the flat do i require the council's permission. i have owned the flat for 5 years

Ian_W

It would be a very unusual leasehold that required you to get the permission of the freeholder [council in this case] to remortgage. How you arrange your finances isn't or shouldn't be IMHO any of their business. Did you require their approval of the lender when you originally borrowed to buy it?

With regard to the work it may have been covered by your service charge. The only way to find out is to speak to the council although the downside is it may alert them to the fact you haven't been charged so a difficult call.

follyfoot

I am asking if i require the permission of the council not the lender? the reason i ask, is i will probably not agree with the what the council say i owe them and if this is the case if i was to remortgage my flat they might stand in the way.

AndrewSmith

As you have owned the flat for 5 years, you are now outside of the council pre-emption period. This means that you are able to re-mortgage or even sell the property without having to gain the Council Permission.

Hope this helps

Andy