buying an ex-council maisonette

RLH30

Hi - we just had our offer on an ex-council maisonette accepted (woo hoo!). Just posting here to find out if anyone has any specific advice on things to check out before exchanging contracts.

Eg do we need a full structural survey? (council is the freeholder, it's a block 4 stories high, ie one maisonette on top of another each with 2 floors...)

Should we get an asbestos check?

Is it worth getting an electrics check?

It does need some work - new boiler, new kitchen - we got it for a good price, much less than other stuff in our area.

Area is lovely, we've spoken to neighbours and been there at various times of the day, so no noise probs etc.

Any help based on previuos experience with ex-council flats appreciated!

BitterAndTwisted

Ensure your solicitor gets the Local Authority to disclose all of their plans for maintenance and refurbishment for the next five years. Some leaseholders have been hit with bills for tens of thousands of pounds once these works are under way and there's no way of declining to have them done.

A full structural survey, always. Some of these properties are constructed of concrete which can make them hard to get a mortgage for.

henpecked1

where there is council there cqn be some unruly neighbours. check all corridors and areas of beer bottles etc

look at the roof etc. often the council will push ahead with major repairs and you will have to share the cost. they did this with our first flat until i found something in the lease about 3 beds paying more than 2 beds etc which saved people a lot of money in the block

GDB2222

It's a council block, so expect special service charges for major works - anything from £5k to £10k every 5 years, with the very occasional £15k-£30k thrown in for good measure. Can you afford that? These properties are cheap for a very good financial reason. It's not all snobbery, you know.

aqueoushumour01

how does a maisonette differ from a house out of interest?

chucknorris

Find out about major works, but don't be too alarmed, I have owned 4 ex-local authority flats for just coming up to 20 years now, all I have been asked to pay for (per flat) is £5,200 (1999) for double glazing and common area redecorations and £1,500 (2004) for roof repairs and re-wiring. So that is only £6,700 in 20 years.

GDB2222

My LA managed to get costs up to £15k for double glazing and external decs. Rather an expensive year for me.

All LAs are getting their knickers in a twist over fire safety - probably rightly so. There is scope to spend many thousands on this, as all ducting has to be sealed between floors. Smoke vents were closed to save heat, and now they will be reopened for safety, etc etc.

Brallaqueen

Check if they have a sink fund and how much it is- this is money put aside from service charges and creates a bit of a buffer if they decide to make improvements.

Who manages the block? The LA, a management company, the residents themselves?

Check if there are going to be any significant rises in the service charges