Findings from homebuyer survey advice needed

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hubby and I are buying a leasehold flat. The flat is on 1st floor of a detached house built in circa 1910. There is only 2 flats in the building and as being the 1st floor we also have the loft access.

We have just received the homebuyer survey back which has raised some immediate problems and we are looking for some practical advice to investigate further.

The chimney stack is the main problem from what we can read. Some bricks are damaged and requires replacing and has vegetation growning from one of the stacks indicating porosity and high levels of damp was noted to the breasts in the roof space.

The gutters are leaking and causing damage to other elements (at the eaves of the roof is time and the soffits are lath and render. There is evidence of failure to the soffits what are blown to the front and rear flank.

Any advice / experience in this area greatly appreciated.

clutton_2

is there a management company in place to repair the fabric of the building and if so how much is in the funds for remedial joint works ?

BitterAndTwisted

Who is the freeholder? I would want to know why these issues haven't already been noticed, addressed and paid for by the current lease-holders.

If the current leaseholders own a share of the freehold and the other leaseholder is unwilling or unable to pay their share for this work you could be inheriting a whole world of pain.

Speak to your Surveyor and see if you can have a chat with whoever it is that owns the other flat.

olly300

As your flat is:
1. Half a converted house
2. Built in 1910
you should have a full structural survey.

Homebuyers reports are really for flat in blocks.


At the moment you need to get a copy of the lease. You need to find out who and how payment for repairs and maintenance of the fabric of the building is done. Is it you on your own or is it shared? If it is shared how is it done.

G_M

Agree with all the above.
Check lease to see how costs are allocated. Roof responsibility yours alone, or shared? Who 'manages' the property? A company? The 2 leaseholders? A freeholder? Is there an annual service charge and if so what for? Are repairs extra or has a contingency fund been built up?
Talk to the downstairs neighbour! Are they going to be helpful or obstructive when it comes to organising and paying shares of costs?!

Finally, however, this does not SOUND hugely expensive. Some roofing work, a few brick replacements and probobly some pointing (damaged cement between bricks letting water get in). A few hundred pounds (probobly [??] shared with downstairs.)

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hi thanks everyone for the advice. We are going to look into the different suggestions.