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Housing developments with residents club
pacific4130
Posts: 152 Forumite
Hi,
My partner and I are currently in the process of buying a house. The development it is on (built approx mid 90s) has a residents club / association. It's a kind of like a community hall, with squash+badminton courts and bar/reception rooms.
Whilst viewing we were told that there was a annual payment for the club. That didn't bother us too much as it was fairly low and many estates these days have maintenance fees etc. My partner, being tea-total, is a bit annoyed to be 'subsidising a drinking club'. I'm not too fussed as I think there are some communal benefits even if we don't use it.
During conveyancing (we're close to being able to complete) the sellers are not being very forthcoming with much information regarding the legal status of the residents club. Fair enough, maybe they don't know (some people are happy to pay without thinking). But, quite rightly, our solicitor is requesting time to investigate the legal obligations, etc.
My partner is starting to get cold feet on the property - not helped by the fact the owners have been really lazy getting their admin done - returning forms, etc. My partner has already started her new job in the area and is started to get annoyed at having to pay for hotel rooms. She's quite tempted to ditch the house, get a short term rent, and look again.
In hindsight, I should have dug deeper into the issue at the start but I've never lived in a property with such a set-up. My opinion of the seller was also that he was very knowledgeable and details would be forthcoming (he's lived there a long time and his parents live on the estate).
Anyone lived on a development with a community club? Any advice on stuff to check out? Obviously my solicitor is on the case but I don't trust any solicitor as far as I can throw 'em!
My partner and I are currently in the process of buying a house. The development it is on (built approx mid 90s) has a residents club / association. It's a kind of like a community hall, with squash+badminton courts and bar/reception rooms.
Whilst viewing we were told that there was a annual payment for the club. That didn't bother us too much as it was fairly low and many estates these days have maintenance fees etc. My partner, being tea-total, is a bit annoyed to be 'subsidising a drinking club'. I'm not too fussed as I think there are some communal benefits even if we don't use it.
During conveyancing (we're close to being able to complete) the sellers are not being very forthcoming with much information regarding the legal status of the residents club. Fair enough, maybe they don't know (some people are happy to pay without thinking). But, quite rightly, our solicitor is requesting time to investigate the legal obligations, etc.
My partner is starting to get cold feet on the property - not helped by the fact the owners have been really lazy getting their admin done - returning forms, etc. My partner has already started her new job in the area and is started to get annoyed at having to pay for hotel rooms. She's quite tempted to ditch the house, get a short term rent, and look again.
In hindsight, I should have dug deeper into the issue at the start but I've never lived in a property with such a set-up. My opinion of the seller was also that he was very knowledgeable and details would be forthcoming (he's lived there a long time and his parents live on the estate).
Anyone lived on a development with a community club? Any advice on stuff to check out? Obviously my solicitor is on the case but I don't trust any solicitor as far as I can throw 'em!
0
Comments
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If the obligations to pay for the club aren't explained in the deeds then I'm not sure how you would be legally tied to it at all? Is there literally zero mention of any charge?0
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Go round to the club and ask them how they are funded.
Thinking of buying want a look round at the faciities etc.
Is this a freehold property?0 -
Yeah, it's a freehold property.
Unfortunately I'm not in the area at the moment. My partner is but she can't get away during the working day. I bet they'd just give me the rough info that the seller did - I'm more concern about the legal stuff. I'm not really too fussed about the actual club as I never intend to use it (not my thing).
As princeofpounds suggested, I'll contact my solicitor and ask about the deeds. To be honest I'm not exactly impressed by the standards of her conveyancing... She should have sorted this ages ago... It's what I'm paying her for!0 -
Phone them up ask to speak to the treasurer, ask if it is just membership fees something else.
It's not the annual fees it the liabilities on the property repairs etc.
Get a copy of the deeds and find out what else is lurking as old covenants on the land can give you resonsibilities.
If you give up on this one get a copy of the deeds early on the next one.0
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