Impact of flat having direct access to garden

wolvoman

The ground floor flat in my block of 7 flats is submitting planning permission for direct access to the garden by way of converting their window into a door.

Currently all 7 flat owners need to go round the side of the building to access the garden. My concern is that although it will still legally be a communal garden, this change will devalue the remaining flats and make them harder to sell.

As it happens the 7 flats together own the freehold.

Any thoughts?

Ionkontrol

How will it devalue them?

Cash-Cow_3

wolvoman wrote: »

The ground floor flat in my block of 7 flats is submitting planning permission for direct access to the garden by way of converting their window into a door.

Currently all 7 flat owners need to go round the side of the building to access the garden. My concern is that although it will still legally be a communal garden, this change will devalue the remaining flats and make them harder to sell.

As it happens the 7 flats together own the freehold.

Any thoughts?

Devaluation of house prices is not a planning matter. If you are going to object you will need another reason.

phill99

There are 2 issues here - the first is pointed out by ionkontrol - the fact that one flat has direct access to the garden will not devalue the rest. That is an absurd statement.

Secondly, it is common in this situation that if structural changes are proposed by a leaseholder (ie flat owner) the freeholder needs to give permission.

You say that the 7 flats are the owners of the freehold. I assume that this is done via a Freehold company within which you all have an equal amount of shares.

The leasholder will have to request permission from the freeholder and when permission is requested, you simply vote not to give permission. You are in a far greater position than simply trying to get the PP refused.