Buying Flat over Co-Op, can I use their roof?

Owain_Moneysaver

A felted flat roof may not be suitable for walking on at all, never mind adding decking. It's possible it's completely unacceptable in terms of being the main/only entrance to the building in terms of fire safety (if there were a fire in the shop and the roof starts burning).

poppysarah

What time does the shop shut. How much noise is there when they shut up. Your 3 yr old might not care about playing outside on a flat roof but they will care about getting to sleep at night.

greenmoneysaver_2

I was worried about the OP walking on a felt roof too!

If they can afford anything else I would always avoid buying above commercial properties, esepcially with rear entrance (oo-er), how well is it lit at night, when do their delivery vans arrive (usually 5-7am before they open) and are they at the rear? Who can hang around at the back of the property at night??

neverdespairgirl

An exception to the commerical-premises thing is in central London, though - a good percentage of flats are above shops / cafes / restaurants etc, and mortgage lenders have no problems here.

PasturesNew

greenmoneysaver wrote: »

Who can hang around at the back of the property at night??

It used to just be murderers, rapists and burglars ... nowadays though you have to fight the freegans who are after the last of the cheese butties that might be in the skip....

greenmoneysaver_2

And frankly, the freegans would worry me more! Saw a Wife Swap with one, they were bonkers (also Born again religious bods living in a camper van with 12 yo son as Dad couldn't work due to skip diving and saving the world. . )

I would also say I watched it by accident and don't actually watch any reality TV. Thank you.

OP, where is the flat?? NDG, in posh central london that may be the case, where Shabby and co squat, but elsewhere still a bit dodgy!

tyllwyd

greenmoneysaver wrote: »

And frankly, the freegans would worry me more! Saw a Wife Swap with one, they were bonkers (also Born again religious bods living in a camper van with 12 yo son as Dad couldn't work due to skip diving and saving the world. . )

There was a thread on MSE at one point about that programme which the people involved joined, but I think it all got a bit too much and if I remember right it got deleted.

neverdespairgirl

greenmoneysaver wrote: »

OP, where is the flat?? NDG, in posh central london that may be the case, where Shabby and co squat, but elsewhere still a bit dodgy!

For example - 2 bed over shops for £595k (700 sq. feet)

http://www.primelocation.com/uk-property-for-sale/details/id/HUDS6760762

3 bed over commerical premises for £1.1 million (Waaaay too much)

http://www.primelocation.com/new-homes/details/id/EASHA24637

PasturesNew

There's one round the corner from me.... £1.5mill for a flat over a pizza takeaway/restaurant. Madness. I think it's dropped 10% since it first went to market though.... it's still over a pizza place though.

Just checked ... it's not that much, it's a smidge under £1mill.... probably enough to be able to get pizza takeaway a few times a week.

greenmoneysaver_2

Ah, NDG, but in central places, and neither has rear entrance, one in fact has a lift - a bit different to scuttling round the fire escape at the back of a co-op!

Buying over commercial property limits your mortgage options, and you may not get one, especially those over restaurants, due to the perceived fire risk. There are also smell, noise and re-sale issues!

Tyllwyd, can't believe I missed that thread! The Dad was given work on a recycling scheme, but had to give it up after a day as he didn't like it! The poor son lied about his parents and where they lived and had few friends as he never wanted to invite them back. Their religion meant no presents at birhtdya and christmas and he'd never had a birthday party! The swapped wife got them a flat for 3-4 days and gave him presents and a party, his face was a picture!