Buying flat in block - query

AliceBanned

Hi

I have started the process of buying a shared ownership flat (resale) from a housing association. On looking on property websites, I can see that 3 of the flats in the block have never been bought, and the property is 10 years old. I have asked the housing assoc whether these are rental only, as I would prefer to know as I think if all are shared ownership or fully privately owned, the likelihood of people being in full time work is much greater. I prefer this as there is less likelihood, of people having late night music etc, although by no means is there any guarantee wherever you live. also the woman who owns it now has only been there for two years, and it is a gorgeous flat. I just wonder why someone would leave. I'm just being very cautious because I know that bad neighbours can wreck your life, I've been through it for years. This happened in the past for me when everyone was renting in a block in a poor neighbourhood, and there was a high proportion of people who weren't working - don't mean to stigmatise but it is a lifestyle thing and I need my sleep. I couldn't afford to move out of it and now as I am thinking of the commitment of buying it is even more important. The housing assoc said it is against data protection if they disclose to me whether the block is fully shared ownership and private, or some social rented. Is this correct? I am not asking about individual tenants, just about the proportion. i would prefer somewhere private or shared ownership so I need to know before I decide for certain.

richardw

Perhaps look the current owner in the eye and ask her 'what's wrong with it then'?

You could walk past at dusk, when the lights come on and the curtains don't close and see if some in your eyes look different, or go by on the top deck of a bus.

AliceBanned

Thanks. She said she's leaving as she's moving back with her parents' with her boyfriend as they are saving to get married. Seemed plausible enough but who knows?!

So there's no way of actually getting that info formally? I suppose the house price websites are a pretty big clue - there are sold prices for most of them, since 2002, then three of them have no sold price at all, so must have never been sold.

It always seems quiet - I've been once during a Saturday daytime, once late Saturday night, and once about 8pm weekday. But that's still not going to make it clear I suppose. I had a homebuyer survey done and it noted that the windowpanes were chipped and needed repainting - something I had also noticed; for a smart area that made it look like the dump of the area, and may be a small thing but I wondered why the housing assoc had let them go. Did look a bit scruffy compared to everything else. Service charge is £98 so surely should cover this. Maybe I'm being paranoid as i thought it was great at first, just something makes me anxious so maybe I need to save up until I can afford something without neighbours above, below, and on all sides. :cool:

AliceBanned

I meant window frames!:)

Jellybean_Jo

I live in a block of 6 SO flats owned by a HA. They are 7 years old. Two of them don't show on the house price websites as being sold, despite the fact that I now know the people who live there, and know they've bought them. In fact one of them has just been sold again, the new couple moved in about 3 months ago and there's still no info showing (I'm nosey and want to know how much they paid for it ) whereas when I bought mine, it updated straight away. I don't know why this is, but just an example of how that information is not always necessarily accurate.

Our block is in fact, the only block completely occupied by owner-occupiers as opposed to HA or private rentals, and without wanting to sound snobby or anything (which I'm really not), you can tell the difference.

Blondetotty

I completely understand. I live in a small block of 5 (3 floors) and while they were all lived in by the owners it was a very nice little block to live in. Now the two middle flats are occupied by renters and although I'm trying not to sound snobbish the quality of life in the block has definately deteriorated.
They're just not as considerate as the previous owners and I haven't had a good nights sleep since they moved in, banging away, stomping up and down and slamming doors with zero concern for anyone else. I know it's not necessarily because they are renters, there are some good ones out there but in my limited experience the owners treat their properties and their neighbours better.

AliceBanned

Thanks for your feedback. It's such a big decision. I'll try a few more websites and maybe land registry, as the housing assoc don't seem to want to disclose this and maybe they can't. I think I will also visit again and hang around, try and speak to some of the neighbours. That would be the best way to find out if there is anything wrong. Don't think I can go ahead whilst not having spoken to someone else in the block.

thanks.

AlexMac

Sympathies- you're obviously sensitive to others' noise, so wise to apply common sense. Hanging around late on Saturday night and asking neighbours is the way to go.

I bought an ex-Council flat last year and while it was a BTL (bizarrely I was letting it back to a HA so they could put in people from the council waiting list- so stuffing 'Right to Buy!) so in a way, not my sleeplessness problem, I found that while I was doing it up, and by just smiling and listening, the folks in adjacent flats were surprisingly willing to grass up their noisier neighbours.
Peaceful dreams

AliceBanned

AlexMac wrote: »

Sympathies- you're obviously sensitive to others' noise, so wise to apply common sense. Hanging around late on Saturday night and asking neighbours is the way to go.

I bought an ex-Council flat last year and while it was a BTL (bizarrely I was letting it back to a HA so they could put in people from the council waiting list- so stuffing 'Right to Buy!) so in a way, not my sleeplessness problem, I found that while I was doing it up, and by just smiling and listening, the folks in adjacent flats were surprisingly willing to grass up their noisier neighbours.
Peaceful dreams

Thanks, I am but having experienced the worst possible a few years ago (two years of 3am raves in a flat above - with sound system actually used for outdoor raves - council did nothing about it for a year but eventually I got him evicted) I am a bit tolerant now of everyday noise. Having said that I have a new neighbour who is very sociable and I have to put earplugs in if the has his mates round with music on in the evening, at the moment. Doesn't bother me as much as I am renting. I think buying somewhere with this anxiety hanging over me is really scarey!

I will try and hover around tomorrow and Sunday and see whether I can catch some of the neighbours for a quick chat. There's a door entry system so it's awkward trying to knock on doors and find out, think i need to try and see people come and go. I have stood outside at 11:30 on a Sat night and my friend lives in the area so has been past a few times and said it is so quiet he wonders whether anyone actually lives there. so it may be just me being nervous of taking the final step..also financially it's not the best option for me long term. In the shorter term its ok and it's a lovely area.:)

salieri75

Flats in my block (including my own) don't show as having been sold. But they have! The internet does not hold all data so be careful not to leap to wrong assumptions.

G_M

When buying a property, whether house or flat, luxury private or ex council, whatever, it is always wise to

* visit multiple times, at different times of day
* knock on neighbours doors
* visit the local pub, corner shop etc and chat
* stop people in the street, talk to the postie
* search for old reports in local paper relating to the street/area (most papers are searchable electronically these days)
etc