Leasehold semi

pilavas

Hi all,

Just seen a semi detached property and was looking to make an offer however the agent has told me it's a leasehold with 930 years left on the lease. He mention that the council own the lease and after 2 years of living in it I will be able to buy it at a small price.

I also spoke to the owner having lived there for 40 years and she said she does not care if its leasehold or not.

checking on rightmove shows a house sold last year as being freehold and with the agent confirming that another owner successfully bought the lease from the council.

Has anyone else been in this kind of situation ?

AnotherJoe

pilavas wrote: »

Has anyone else been in this kind of situation ?

I'm sure they have been. What was your actual question?

pilavas

I wanted to know What was the actual outcome ?
Whether the freehold on a semi can actually be bought from the council ?

Dan-Dan

pilavas wrote: »

Whether the freehold on a semi can actually be bought from the council ?

You just told us someone already had?

In any case only your legal enquiries can tell you for certain

rtho782

You could always ask the current owner to buy it, then sell it to you, and pay their costs.

pilavas

Good point rtho782, May be a bit difficult but I can see there are a few freehold properties on that road.

The estate agent told me someone already had bought the freehold but I never usually believe what estate agents say anyway

Mossfarr

I have just bought the freehold of my ex local authority property, it had 967 years remaining and I've had the house since 2009.
The cost of the freehold was £1000 - £250 for the freehold and £750 for the council's legal fees. My solicitor charged £480 plus disbursements. £1548.00 in total. Completed in 8 weeks.
Shop around for solicitors - the fees ranged from £480 to a few thousand!

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

pilavas wrote: »

I also spoke to the owner having lived there for 40 years and she said she does not care if its leasehold or not.

I would look forward to getting the survey done on this house. When you point out to her the surveyor says there's no roof and the walls are collapsing, she will no doubt say "I don't care whether they are or not."

What she cares about and what you care about are very different things.

Cakeguts

Are you going to live for more than 930 years? What are you worried about? Your solicitor can tell you the conditions of the lease. If you don't like what is in the lease you don't have to buy the property.

pilavas

I am more concerned about extending the property etc....
Whether I need permission or disallowed etc...

Cakeguts

pilavas wrote: »

I am more concerned about extending the property etc....
Whether I need permission or disallowed etc...

Wouldn't it just be simpler to buy a property of the size you really want rather than go to all the effort of building an extension?