Buying a flat and want to take my cat...advice please

Hoploz

You don't really get freehold flats as such.

Some are sold as 'share of freehold' which means the owners of the flats are the freeholder collectively. Which means you still have to get agreement on works, and pay for services. This is all fine if everyone thinks the same as you but can still cause problems if for example one person doesn't have the money to pay their share of essential works, or if they disagree work needs doing, or if they are just the sort of person who enjoys making other peoples lives difficult.... Trouble is you don't know who you are sharing the freehold with. So in some ways you could say you're better off with an independent company managing things. It may well cost more, but actually the residents do still have a say in how the money is spent, and at least you can be reasonably sure things are run in a business-like fashion.

CathA

My daughter was buying a flat, there were cats and dogs in the block, everyone knew she had a dog, the lease said that pets were ok with the freeholders permission. She assumed (yes, I know she shouldn't have!) that there would be no problems.

Just before exchange, her solicitor asked the freeholding company about the dog and they gave a blanket no. No room for manoeuvre, no discussion, just no, even though loads of other pets were in the building. Apparently they had had problems with a tenant and his dogs, so decided that no-one was having one, though not sure what they were planning to do with people that already had pets. They told her that if they found out she had moved in with her dog, especially after being told no, they would move to take legal action for being in breach of the lease.
She didn't buy it.
I'm not saying you should not ask/be dishonest/lie, I'll leave it to your judgement.

ognum

Hoploz wrote: »

You don't really get freehold flats as such.

Some are sold as 'share of freehold' which means the owners of the flats are the freeholder collectively. Which means you still have to get agreement on works, and pay for services. This is all fine if everyone thinks the same as you but can still cause problems if for example one person doesn't have the money to pay their share of essential works, or if they disagree work needs doing, or if they are just the sort of person who enjoys making other peoples lives difficult.... Trouble is you don't know who you are sharing the freehold with. So in some ways you could say you're better off with an independent company managing things. It may well cost more, but actually the residents do still have a say in how the money is spent, and at least you can be reasonably sure things are run in a business-like fashion.

If you are an owner occupier of a flat the likely hood is you will be co-opted onto the management committee of the block.

I own and let several flats with share of the freehold. I always aim to attend the yearly meetings where management issues are discussed, I almost never see other absent owners there ( I always email my tenants to find out if they have issues that need resolving or want to attend with me)

At the last meeting I attended the stats were that 75% of the 32 flats were let. The 8 owner occupiers made up the committee!

Biophysics_Guy

Hello,

Just to post a conclusion / update to my original post to help others who may find themselves in the same situation in future....

I spent some time viewing various properties, but explained to the estate agents that I had a cat, and if they thought this would be a problem. If the EA said they didn't think it would be a problem, I then arranged a viewing.

I found a place I liked, and had an offer accepted. I then did a lot of research online and managed to get information on the freeholders pet policy, which was 'with freeholders permission'. I then contacted the freeholder, explained the situation and asked for permission, which they were happy to give.

When I contacted the freeholder, I wrote a polite, and informative letter explaining exactly what pet I wanted to bring (cat) and provided relevant information about how my cat will not be a nuisance to any other residents, and that she has had all her shots etc etc. Basically, I gave the image of a responsible and considerate pet owner, which I am.

I would recommend a similar honest approach to others, as it means not having to deal with nagging doubts and a bit of guilt about not following the rules exactly.

moneyistooshorttomention

May Puss and yourself enjoy your new home.

Biophysics_Guy

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

May Puss and yourself enjoy your new home.

Thank you

chris_m

PasturesNew wrote: »

There is no "cat patrol" and no "issuing officer" issuing you with a notice to quit simply because a passing neighbour saw a cat sitting on your windowsill.

Not even if said cat is named Eric?

http://www.alltooflat.com/about/python/

S: What cat detector van?
C: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge.
S: Housinge?
C: It was spelt like that on the van (I'm very observant!). I never seen so many bleeding aerials. The man said that their equipment could pinpoint a purr at four hundred yards! And Eric, being such a happy cat, was a piece of cake.

:rotfl:

hazyjo

Well done! I'd def not have risked it either. I love my kits and would have done the same. Would never have chanced it. Sometimes neighbours can be nasty. You just never know...

Nice ending

Jx

tealady

You do realise that having mentioned your beloved mog that it is appears to be an unwritten rule on this site that you have to post a picture of them

hazyjo

I'll show you mine if the OP shows us his


Jx