House Buying Quadary

Hoploz

I was going to suggest the Planning issue might be a problem but I've been beaten to it!

I would add, however, that in the current Permitted Development guidelines, there is a section about converting business premises to residential, and I think they have eased restrictions on this in response to the lack of housing supply these days. So although you may find a mortgage difficult, you may find you could convert it under PD rather than Planning. The implication of this would be that under PD it can't be refused as long as it meets the criteria, whereas Planning is subject to planning officers and local residents opinions. Something for you to look into, as if you found you had an automatic right then the mortgage might be more forthcoming!

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Cheers guys. The house/office building is in a residential street and has been a house a long time ago before it became offices, so hopefully shouldn't be an issue to change it back to residential use. Will check with the council tomorrow though.

With regards the kitchen / bathroom issue - it currently has a "kitchen area" per the EA's info which is basically a kitchen sink and small area of worktop. I guess it will depend on the bank's definition but with a sink and a microwave and fridge plugged in, does that make it a kitchen?

As for bathrooms, there are quite a few sinks and toilets but no bath/shower. Again I guess it depends on the bank's definition of bathroom.....

Will have a chat with a mortgage broker and see if they can shed any light on the definitions.

Thanks for all the advice. If it ever comes off then i'll be sure to post some pics up and more info.... its a beauty

EDIT: Just a thought, but if I applied for a mortgage on the property, how would the mortgage company check whether it had a kitchen / bathroom? If it was just a valuation survey rather than a homebuyers, do they access the house on a valuation survey? My understanding was its just a driveby jobbie?

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Some good news - an enquiry with the council reveals that the owner has actually already applied, and had approved, a change of use request on the property. So it seems like changing it back to a house has already been approved.

Question though: obviously the current owner applied for the change of use - so is planning permission not specific to the person that applies for it? The person at the council didn't seem to think that me changing the property back to a house, on the back of the current owners application, would be a problem.

Now I just need to find out about the "habitable" condition of the mortgage. Would be interested on anyone's thoughts on the question in post 13 above.

Rambosmum

Lifes_Grand_Plan wrote: »

Some good news - an enquiry with the council reveals that the owner has actually already applied, and had approved, a change of use request on the property. So it seems like changing it back to a house has already been approved.

Question though: obviously the current owner applied for the change of use - so is planning permission not specific to the person that applies for it? The person at the council didn't seem to think that me changing the property back to a house, on the back of the current owners application, would be a problem.

Now I just need to find out about the "habitable" condition of the mortgage. Would be interested on anyone's thoughts on the question in post 13 above.

The mortgage company will instruct a valuation survey, the surveyor will access the house and give it a cursory glance, and will note whether there is a kitchen and bathroom.

The change of use is specific to the building. So if the current owner changes it from business to residential the new owner will buy it as a residential property, and should they want to turn it in to a business they would need to apply for change of use, just as if the current owner didn't get change of use, you would buy it as a business property.

You need to ensure that the change of use has been granted, otherwise you won't get a residential mortgage, whether the property is habitable or not.

jbainbridge

Just make an offer and see what happens ... It doesn't commit you to buying anyway!