New 2 Bedroom House/Flat Above 3 Garages - Why?

AnnieO1234

Toja you're probably better starting off a new thread.

Your problem will be how well the property has been built, insulated and heated in the first place. It's a bit like living with an empty apartment beneath you but may not even be that good as the garages may not have insulation.

FWIW the coach house I spoke about earlier in the thread has still not sold and has been reduced down 3 times since late last summer. It's a beautiful property but does have problems from the garages below.

Xxx

donfanatico

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

Toja you're probably better starting off a new thread.

Your problem will be how well the property has been built, insulated and heated in the first place. It's a bit like living with an empty apartment beneath you but may not even be that good as the garages may not have insulation.

FWIW the coach house I spoke about earlier in the thread has still not sold and has been reduced down 3 times since late last summer. It's a beautiful property but does have problems from the garages below.

Xxx

link please

poppysarah

Feng shui says it's bad chi to have garages underneath like that.

And on big country estates accommodation like that would be only for the servants!

newbridge

If they are recent built, they might have some good insulation improving the energy ratings compared to something built before 30-40 years.

toja

Here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29359656.html?premiumA=true

It is probably the cheapest "house" in a catchment of some excellent schools, so...

Strangely I do believe in feng shui, however these garages do not bother me. I walk around quite a bit and there is no traffic apart from parked cars, the garages are only used for storage, no youth hanging or playing ball games.

My main worry is how cold the flat could be - can it be worse than my draughty Victorian terrace? The radiators do not seem oversized so maybe not too bad? I would be changing that carpet and I could add some decent insulation on the floor.

toja

Just to add that currently I am in an old house with all sorts of problems and really would like to escape for an easy maintenance option. I love this coach house (layout inside and a potential to convert the garage) and would think that if it had major problems it would be passed on every couple of years..

robatwork

Structurally, if someone's foot slips and drives their car straight into/through the rear wall of one of the garages, is the property above likely to collapse? Or are they designed with more sensible load bearing walls?

toja

robatwork, I do not know these things but I guess it is a normal cavity wall all around (would be the same effect as to any house).

robatwork

I guess in most houses an integral garage is only used by the resident who will naturally be careful. I am a bit worried in this design you would have a random person using the garage beneath you. They could be a DIY nut so drilling and banging every weekend. Or someone who likes to work on motorbikes....

I wonder in the deeds for these houses if there is anything preventing noise nuisance?

Plus I would clarify the insurance situation as to exactly what you are responsible for - I would talk to my insurance company to ensure they would cover this arrangement.

AnnieO1234

Just looked at what the EPC is on the coach house I have mentioned in this thread. It was built at same time as our detached home within the last two years by the same developer. Now it might just be our developer has cut corners on the coach house but it only has a C rating whereas ours is A. It has the potential to get into a B rating by 1 point.

For perspective, My bro-in-law recently had an EPC on his Victorian end terrace, and this had a high D with a potential for a mid C.

I don't pretend to know anything about EPC ratings, but it seems pertinent to some of the questions in this thread.

Xxx