Any restrictions changing the layout of a Leasehold property

Counting_Pennies_2

I am interested in purchasing a property that is leasehold.

There is a possibility of altering the layout of the property in order to change it from a one bed to a two bedroom property. By moving the bathroom.

Does anyone know if you have to get Freeholder permission to do such a thing? Does that change the lease in any way?

Many thanks

propertyman

It is common for a lease to ahve clause requiring consent for alterations. These can be quite prescriptive, some general and some partial eg limited to only structural alterations.

The exact implications can only be established once you have seen the wording of this lease.

While they cannot unreasonably refuse consent, it is often reasonable to refuse consent to relocate a wet room ( a bathroom) over a dry room such as a living room, or have a living room over a bedroom.

Depending on the lease you should allow at least 3 - 4 weeks to get consent before starting the work and will be responsible for the landlord's legal costs and surveyors costs in approving the works and inspecting to see that you have complied with them.

Some landlords are quite fussy and some might not even reply!

While it depends on the lease these are done by a simple letter licence or in the case of relocating rooms, it will require a deed of variation.

Bear in mind you will pay your own professional and legal costs and those of your lender, as well as building regulations consent. Increase in living space can lead to increases in your service charge % too, where they are calculated on potential occupancy rather than floor area.

But before you purchase you must be certain that consent will be given or at the very least will be given in principle.