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leasehole maisonette - solicitor enquiries

hells_bells
hells_bells Posts: 88 Forumite
edited 20 October 2014 at 5:33PM in House buying, renting & selling
Hi there,


We are buying a leasehold maisonette and their are 3 other maisonettes in the same building. Our solicitor has asked the seller/ seller's solicitors to see copies of the building insurances from the other maisonette owners. I know the solicitor wants this done but I am concerned this is going to take so long. One of the maisonettes is rented and I can see people receiving their letters from the solicitors and just leaving it on the side and forgetting about it.


Can anyone help me or advise me.

Comments

  • jamie11
    jamie11 Posts: 4,436 Forumite
    Who is the freeholder for the block? They should be insuring the building as a whole.

    Individual leaseholders should only need contents insurance for their own properties.
  • I am not sure who the freeholder is, there is no service charge and only a peppercorn ground rent.
  • I am not sure who the freeholder is, there is no service charge and only a peppercorn ground rent.

    As mentioned above the freeholder insures the building and the leaseholder pays their share.
  • but there is no service chare and a peppercorn ground rent so how do we pay our share? As far as I know there is no building insurance and all four maisonettes have to have separate buildings insurances each. There are no communal areas.
  • jamie11
    jamie11 Posts: 4,436 Forumite
    If it's a leasehold then there must be a freeholder, it's probably going to be one of the flat owners, which one? If there truly is no building insurance then you are taking a huge risk. A 'Right to Manage' company may be the way to go.
  • You are all essentially sharing the same roof. A fire from an upstairs maisonette could effect other properties in the block.

    There has to be an overall buildings policy in place somewhere and you solicitor is right in asking for the proof of the policy.
  • phill99
    phill99 Posts: 9,093 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    As mentioned above the freeholder insures the building and the leaseholder pays their share.

    In most cases you are correct. But there are numerous cases in the UK where the lease is silent on insurance and its up to individual leaseholders to insure their own flat.
    Eat vegetables and fear no creditors, rather than eat duck and hide.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    What did the other residents/leaseholders say when you spoke to them? Or did you not know to ask about insurance at the time of your visits?

    You have knocked on all their doors for a chat haven't you.........?
This discussion has been closed.
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