Buying flat on benefits help

moneyistooshorttomention

teddysmum wrote: »

It's not just a case of service charges, but charges levied on all occupants when the whole block is given a facelift or necessary upgrade. People on here have found these to be very expensive.

Particularly if the flat (maisonette) is an ex-Council one. :eek:

I've certainly read a couple of recent threads on here from people who have bought ex-Council property and, shortly thereafter, been presented with a bill by the Council for their share of communal work and its been thousands of £s (in one case - over £20,000).

The other thing I've read several threads about was that, even with private sector housing - there have been posters who found that the management committee had been planning on a spot of maintenance for some time and the vendor knew very well about it BUT didn't tell the buyer and the first they knew was a bill coming through to them for their share AFTER they had bought the place. Cue for them coming on here and asking if they can make the vendor pay their bill themselves (ie because they knew about it).

Personally - I wouldn't dream of buying a flat/maisonette after some of the stories I've read on here (and that's before we go into whether the neighbours are disturbing it with noise).

csgohan4

johnnyloco wrote: »

it's part of many reasons. the bungalow needs work she cant afford. moving closer as this will mean she can live independently for longer.

If she can't afford to do work on her current house, she will likely not be able to afford work on her new house in the future which could be enforceable i.e service charges and repairs to the whole block. I don't think she can afford a new place imho.

Yolina

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Personally - I wouldn't dream of buying a flat/maisonette after some of the stories I've read on here (and that's before we go into whether the neighbours are disturbing it with noise).

And then there's those of us happily living in flats with no issues about unexpected charges because there is a sinking fund and no problem with noise either because the lease is very clear about that too and so any such issues are easy to deal with.

johnnyloco

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Particularly if the flat (maisonette) is an ex-Council one. :eek:

I've certainly read a couple of recent threads on here from people who have bought ex-Council property and, shortly thereafter, been presented with a bill by the Council for their share of communal work and its been thousands of £s (in one case - over £20,000).

The other thing I've read several threads about was that, even with private sector housing - there have been posters who found that the management committee had been planning on a spot of maintenance for some time and the vendor knew very well about it BUT didn't tell the buyer and the first they knew was a bill coming through to them for their share AFTER they had bought the place. Cue for them coming on here and asking if they can make the vendor pay their bill themselves (ie because they knew about it).

Personally - I wouldn't dream of buying a flat/maisonette after some of the stories I've read on here (and that's before we go into whether the neighbours are disturbing it with noise).

I thank you and the others for the advice re warnings of living in flat/maisonette. However, I feel (and I could be very wrong) that by reading the many horror stories have given some people a distorted view of common these problems are.

At the end of the day we're not overflowing with options. If she could afford a bungalow she would get one but they are a lot more expensive. Hopefully a survey would bring up any major problems on the horizon? IF not and it all goes tits up then she will just have to sell that place.

teddysmum

johnnyloco wrote: »

I thank you and the others for the advice re warnings of living in flat/maisonette. However, I feel (and I could be very wrong) that by reading the many horror stories have given some people a distorted view of common these problems are.

At the end of the day we're not overflowing with options. If she could afford a bungalow she would get one but they are a lot more expensive. Hopefully a survey would bring up any major problems on the horizon? IF not and it all goes tits up then she will just have to sell that place.

A survey wouldn't show intention to revamp a building, as it's not a fault and notice of intent may not have been given.


Is there no sheltered housing to rent ?

johnnyloco

teddysmum wrote: »

A survey wouldn't show intention to revamp a building, as it's not a fault and notice of intent may not have been given.


Is there no sheltered housing to rent ?

That feels like an extreme measure at this stage.

cashbackproblems

Tell her to get a job

Dird

johnnyloco wrote: »

Well she has some credit card stuff she needs to pay off and with getting the flat ready there would not be much left.

So she wouldn't have enough to renew the lease after those costs come out?

Nobbie1967

cashbackproblems wrote: »

Tell her to get a job

1/10 for trolling, must try harder;)

johnnyloco

Dird wrote: »

So she wouldn't have enough to renew the lease after those costs come out?

I've put the lease cost into those figures.

Was searching for more places last night but there is very little out there that does not have some problems....