looking to buy a new house but theres a fee for a shared drive

smoggieboy

Looking to buy a new build house from Miller homes, couple of issues I am unsure about. Firstly the house has a shared driveway with 1 other house and we would have to pay a monthly fee for the upkeep of the house. This is a little concerning because the monthly fee of 6.50 pounds is only fixed for 3 years, then its reviewed.

Is paying for the maintenance of a shared drive common practice?

Secondly the property is on a 999 year lease, you can buy out the lease for 3K which im considering doing.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated!!!!

Talc1234

smoggieboy wrote: »

Looking to buy a new build house from Miller homes, couple of issues I am unsure about. Firstly the house has a shared driveway with 1 other house and we would have to pay a monthly fee for the upkeep of the house. This is a little concerning because the monthly fee of 6.50 pounds is only fixed for 3 years, then its reviewed.

Is paying for the maintenance of a shared drive common practice?

Secondly the property is on a 999 year lease, you can buy out the lease for 3K which im considering doing.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated!!!!

Service charges are quite common with new builds. Although it wont remain fixed it isn't going to be too onerous. I paid £109 as my share for 2015. My house is freehold so buying the freehold wont eliminate the service charge but will mean you don't have to pay ground rent.

G_M

smoggieboy wrote: »

Looking to buy a new build house from Miller homes, couple of issues I am unsure about. Firstly the house has a shared driveway with 1 other house and we would have to pay a monthly fee for the upkeep of[STRIKE] the house[/STRIKE]the drive?. This is a little concerning because the monthly fee of 6.50 pounds is only fixed for 3 years, then its reviewed.
well if the drive is shared it seems logical/fair for each party to contribute to upkeep. Who does the upkeep though? Who decides if/when money should be spet on upkeep?

If it is you and your neighbour, then you can maintain it how you like, at whatever cost you like. If it is a 'management company', or freeholder, you have less control and (potentially) greater costs in the future.

Is paying for the maintenance of a shared drive common practice?
Yes. though more usually you would simply decide with your neighbour when and how to repair/upgrade it.

Secondly the property is on a 999 year lease, you can buy out the lease for 3K which im considering doing.
Why? Do you expect to live beyond that timeframe? Or your children to live beyond that timeframe? Or your childeren's children....?

Any help and advice would be much appreciated!!!!

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I_have_spoken

Shared drive, leasehold, management fees...Run, don't walk away!

NB I bet the builder has sold the parking enforcement on the estate to some shysters

stator

Your conveyencer should check it all out, what you are liable for, what you are not. A shared drive isn't a big concern, but it would be odd to have a management company for something so small. Are you sure you're not liable for the whole road, plus maybe a sewer pumping station etc? These things would be more of a concern.

smoggieboy

Looking to buy a new build house from Miller homes, couple of issues I am unsure about. Firstly the house has a shared driveway with 1 other house and we would have to pay a monthly fee for the upkeep of the housethe drive?. This is a little concerning because the monthly fee of 6.50 pounds is only fixed for 3 years, then its reviewed.
well if the drive is shared it seems logical/fair for each party to contribute to upkeep. Who does the upkeep though? Who decides if/when money should be spet on upkeep?
of course its fair to share costs and that wasn't my concern, the upkeep is managed by a 3rd Party Property Services company. We raise the issue they fix it apparently. We as the home owners will not pay any further cost than the £6.50 a month.

If it is you and your neighbour, then you can maintain it how you like, at whatever cost you like. If it is a 'management company', or freeholder, you have less control and (potentially) greater costs in the future.


the greater costs in the future is my concern and this £6.50 is just fixed till 2017. this is my major concern.


Is paying for the maintenance of a shared drive common practice?
Yes. though more usually you would simply decide with your neighbour when and how to repair/upgrade it.


id prefer not to be paying a 3rd party company but that is how it is and I don't want to sign up to something im going to end up paying a fortune for in the future


Secondly the property is on a 999 year lease, you can buy out the lease for 3K which im considering doing.
Why? Do you expect to live beyond that timeframe? Or your children to live beyond that timeframe? Or your childeren's children....?


I see what your saying, however selling the house may become difficult as people whether you agree or not will be put off by this lease hold freehold debate.


Any help and advice would be much appreciated!!!!

smoggieboy

G_M wrote: »

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Talc1234 wrote: »

Service charges are quite common with new builds. Although it wont remain fixed it isn't going to be too onerous. I paid £109 as my share for 2015. My house is freehold so buying the freehold wont eliminate the service charge but will mean you don't have to pay ground rent.

£109 a year seems a little steep for me, as well as paying the lease annual fee.

jbainbridge

As part of your negotiations get the freehold included?

smoggieboy

jbainbridge wrote: »

As part of your negotiations get the freehold included?

yes this is not a bad idea because I was after flooring which was over 3K

[Deleted User]

I live in a house with a shared drive, and I don't pay any fees to anyone. Having seen the way some freeholders take leaseholders to the cleaners with management fees, I'd be very wary.

G_M

Who owns the freehold?

Who employs the management company?

Maintenance of a shared drive is likely to involve re-surfacing after, say 15-20 years? perhaps occassional filling of a pothole?

£6.50 pm x 2 (the other house?) x 12 = £156 a year = £1,560 after 10 years which should pay for re-surfacing.