What's better: Ground or first flr flat?

breadlinebetty

Werdnal wrote: »

Even so, you still cannot decide to keep pets if the other freeholders do not agree! You have a share, you don't own the rights to do what you like!

Likewise neither do your co-freeholders. Works both ways.:)

Unlike a leasehold flat where you're ordered what to do by the freeholders, as a freeholder you and your co-freeholders can make your own decisions.

Also, owning a share of the freehold means that you are not ripped off by expensive management companies or your freeholder. You decide what needs doing and when, who does it and how much it costs. There's nothing added on for the middle man's time.


Freeholders often have a true vested interest in keeping the property up to scratch, too.

Of friends I know that own flats, the best maintained ones are those where they have share of freehold, true interest and input.

breadlinebetty

Jellybean_Jo wrote: »

You still have to abide by the lease as determined by the other freeholders.

You're wrong again Bean.

A freeholder is NOT a LEASEHOLDER. A freeholder is not ordered about like a leaseholder is. The freeholder is the one who has the say in what happens! OK, the other freeholders need to agree, but unless there's hundreds of co-freeholders 2, 3 or 4 co-freeholders will almost always reach an amicable agreement, simply because it's in their best interests and they all have a vested interest in their land and the property

Fire_Fox

breadlinebetty wrote: »

You are COMPLETELY wrong!

SHARE of FREEHOLD means exactly that - share of FREEHOLD. It is not leasehold.

If you buy a 'Share of Freehold' property you become freeholder - you're not a leaseholder.

No dear it's you who are mistaken, the owner is one of the freeholders AND a leaseholder.

"In recent years the option to become a share of freehold owner has become much easier. This allows you to own your flat outright. Essentially it works by the owners of leasehold flats buying the freehold off the freeholder and then all owning a share of it.
Your property will still be owned leasehold but the new freehold organisation can grant new leases of long length, say 999 years, with a peppercorn ground rent.
This is preferable for technical reasons to owning a flat freehold, which causes problems with insurance companies and mortgage lenders.
Once you have a share of freehold flat you will then have a share in the common areas of the building - roof, walls, stairs and hallway - and be partly responsible with the other commonholders for the upkeep of those areas."
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-1585043/Mortgages-homes-guide-Leasehold-vs-freehold--right-buy.html

"Virtually all flats in England and Wales are owned with leasehold title. Even if the owners have acquired the freehold title the leases of the flats still continue - meaning that the owners are still bound by the lessee's obligations contained in the leases - but the freehold is divided between the flat-owners.
For all flats (except the very rare 'freehold flats') it is still necessary to transfer the leasehold title, so buyers' Conveyancing Solicitors will still have to carry out the usual work involved with such property transfers.
If you are considering buying an apartment advertised with a share of the freehold, obtain further advice from a Conveyancing Solicitor at the earliest opportunity.."
http://www.fridaysmove.com/leasehold-vs-share-freehold/256

Fire_Fox

breadlinebetty wrote: »

Thanks for doing the donkey work for me! I'm glad you haven't got a car and you're stuck indoors Googling!:D

I love being able to afford to work part time - getting out of the south! - don't love having health problems quite so much.

Just to clarify do you now accept that you were mistaken when you claimed "share of FREEHOLD. It is not leasehold ...you become freeholder - you're not a leaseholder." and "A freeholder is NOT a LEASEHOLDER"? :rotfl:

Brallaqueen

Top Floor - dealing with roof leaks or having to suffer routine maintenance. Having to carry shopping up that far if no lift / lift out of order.

Ground floor - dealing with drainage problems or flooding. Noise of the front door and people traipsing past your flat to get to the bin room/storage etc.

However I was catless at that point. Now I have a cat a garden space would come in very handy

Jellybean_Jo

breadlinebetty wrote: »

You're wrong again Bean.

A freeholder is NOT a LEASEHOLDER. A freeholder is not ordered about like a leaseholder is. The freeholder is the one who has the say in what happens! OK, the other freeholders need to agree, but unless there's hundreds of co-freeholders 2, 3 or 4 co-freeholders will almost always reach an amicable agreement, simply because it's in their best interests and they all have a vested interest in their land and the property

Not wrong...there is still a lease, and the lease must still be abided by. With a share of freehold, one may be able to change clauses in the lease with the consent of fellow freeholders, but there is still a lease. So it is leasehold, with share of freehold.

On a personal note, don't call me Bean. Is Jo really that hard to spell if you can't be bothered to type Jellybean, Line?

totallybored

I used to have a first floor flat with a garden. It was a Victorian conversion and the back garden was split down the middle. I had a spiral staircase outside down into my side of the garden. The staircase was lovely to grow trailing flowers down in summer and I had a chair on the top of it so it was like a little balcony too. I think the lease said no animals or pianos.

I also rented a 1st floor flat in Leyton which had inside staircase at the back of the flat with a small utility room at the bottom. The garden was then split down the middle.

breadlinebetty

Jellybean_Jo wrote: »

Not wrong...there is still a lease, and the lease must still be abided by. With a share of freehold, one may be able to change clauses in the lease with the consent of fellow freeholders, but there is still a lease. So it is leasehold, with share of freehold.

On a personal note, don't call me Bean. Is Jo really that hard to spell if you can't be bothered to type Jellybean, Line?

You can't seem to grasp the fact that as a FREEHOLDER you and your co-freeholders OWN the land the property sits on, and you're also in charge of how what/what/when anything needs to be done to the property - unlike a leasee who has to abide to the FREEHOLDERS rules.

Doeas that makes sense, Jelly?:p

breadlinebetty

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I love being able to afford to work part time - getting out of the south! - don't love having health problems quite so much.

Just to clarify do you now accept that you were mistaken when you claimed "share of FREEHOLD. It is not leasehold ...you become freeholder - you're not a leaseholder." and "A freeholder is NOT a LEASEHOLDER"? :rotfl:

You seem to be on here an awful lot; is it really soooo boring where you live?:o

Look, I'm not going to soothe your dissatisfaction by giving you an argument.

A freeholder is not a leaseholder - and a leaseholder is not a freeholder.

A freeholder may write themselves up a lease (if they want to!) and they'll decide what goes into that lease, but as they're their own bosses - for want of a better term - they are not beholden to freeholders demands, given that THEY themselves are the freeholders.

Understand?

:T

breadlinebetty

Brallaqueen wrote: »

Top Floor - dealing with roof leaks or having to suffer routine maintenance. Having to carry shopping up that far if no lift / lift out of order.

Ground floor - dealing with drainage problems or flooding. Noise of the front door and people traipsing past your flat to get to the bin room/storage etc.

However I was catless at that point. Now I have a cat a garden space would come in very handy

It really depends on the flat - it it's in a purpose built block or is a conversion/maisonette

As a rule roof repairs are shared by all the owners - after all, they all need a roof, regardless of whether they live on the ground floor or not.

If there's not lift then stairs are definitely a minus as regards shopping etc, or for those with health problems, the elderly, or even people with young children.

Likewise, all the owners are usually responsible for drainage repairs etc.

With regads to the front door and people traipsing in and out - again that depends on the build. Some flats/maisonettes have their own front door, which is obviously the ideal solution.:)