flat dilema what i can and cant do

lauranurse

Have now been to view a ground floor flat twice. It is in need of a bit of work but its do able i think. The thing is it has its own garden which is to the front and side of the property. I was wondering if anyone knows if you are allowed to build say a conservatory on the side of a flat i know it all seems a bit much but the flat is very small!!! And how about a big fence around the front? The estate agents are looking in the terms etc but i just wondered if anyone has any idea?

tomstickland

If it's a leasehold flat then you will have to seek the permission of the freeholder for the building. Worth contacting them to ask.

A_Nice_Englishman

If the flat needs work doing to it, is "very small" , needs the only potentially private part of the garden taken up by a conservatory and a big fence erected (if allowed) at the front I would look elsewhere.

This property doesn't seem close to meeting your requirements. Something more suitable is sure to be on the market or will come on soon.

lauranurse

But the problem is the garden isnt private at present it is overlooked by all the neighbours everyone else seems to have grown bushes around theres. I think the flat has potential i just think i could do with a bit more am i being unrealistic it is a very cheap price for the area it is in!!!! There is a lack of propertys in my price range around at the moment

A_Nice_Englishman

Personally I would go for a property that met all (or nearly all) my needs rather than one which needed a lot of changes.

It may be cheap for the area it's in (ask yourself why) but if the conservatory, fence and other work cost, say, £10,000 it might be better to pay £10,000 extra for a more suitable property. Such a property might be easier to sell when the time comes too.

Just my point of view.

lauranurse

Thanks a nice englisehman i see your point and perhaps i would have problems selling it on afterwards.

tomstickland

Personally I'd consider something with potential because you can buy it cheap and then turn it into what you want. My flat was on the market for a year because it just needed some basic decorating and was looking unloved.
TBH, I'm sat here now and it looks really smart and I remember looking at it with the EA and thinking "what a craphole, I can't see myself living here".

A_Nice_Englishman

I'd agree with tomstickland if the problem was just cosmetic, but the OP felt he/she would have to build a conservatory because the flat was too small. That's a rather more fundemental problem and make me think twice or three times about buying unless there were overriding factors.

tomstickland

Yes. If it really is too small then think again. Conservatories are rubbish according to a work colleague with one - hot in summer, cold in winter.

seven-day-weekend

As it is a flat you will need planning permission for your conservatory and you are not allowed to put a fence above a metre high without planning permission if it faces a road (which on a corner property is at the front and side). You can put a fence up to two metres high elsewhere without planning permission.

never_enough

You may be able to build, depends on the lease. I did onto a ground floor (obviously!! :rolleyes: :rotfl: ) flat. It was a proper extension & improved an already pretty amazing flat I'd had for years. Tend to agree with other posters, redecoration is one thing, thinking you'll need to build straight away to make it big enough means it's probably not the place for you.
Good luck with your search.