How to sell house with integral annexe

davidmcn

Woodlandfolk wrote: »

There's no possibility of linking the upper and lower parts of the property, nor of separating the services.

Can you explain why not? I can understand it being time-consuming or expensive but I can't believe it's impossible.

Woodlandfolk

Thanks so much for your replies. I haven't responded earlier because we remain in 'Limbo'! Just to clarify, we need to downsize because we're both elderly. Our house was built on sloping ground, with 2 stories on one side & 3 on the other. The integral annexe is accessed at ground level on the lower side; we also enter at ground level on the higher side. All utilities are shared and it would be very difficult (& costly) to separate the services. We've had several disappointed potential buyers who've struggled to get a mortgage because of the annexe. WHY?! All advice welcome.

Doozergirl

Is it on the market? Do you have a floorplan?

Nothing is structurally impossible. Might be difficult, might even be expensive, but not impossible.

hazyjo

Could sell it at auction. Set a reserve. You will incur costs, but if it's in a popular seaside town with letting potential, it's probably your best way of attracting cash buyers who are ready to go...


Jx

eddddy

So does the annex have a kitchen? If so, have you investigated the option of decommissioning the kitchen? (e.g. removing the cooker and calling it a utility room)

Has somebody (e.g. a mortgage valuer) advised you that removing the cooker isn't good enough?

What do the mortgage valuers actually give as the precise reason for refusing a mortgage?

MrsNubs

We bought a house a year ago with an annexe, although they do connect. We had a very limited pool of lenders who would consider a house with two functioning kitchens, but our broker found us one. The biggest problem may be that the two can't be connected. Sounds like your only option is to list the property as 'cash buyers only'
Also, to answer your question about why - a self-contained annexe is too easy to sub-let which lenders do not want on a residential mortgage. Our mortgage specifically comes with a term forbidding any occupants who aren't family.

Woodlandfolk

Thank you! We are truly grateful for so many suggestions. [Although PLEASE believe me when I say that it's not possible to connect the 2 properties -- there are constraints in the landscape which simply will not allow this.] Admittedly, we were ill-informed when we bought the place 18 years ago. The apartment was already registered for separate council tax but this info wasn't passed on to us and it's now far too late to take issue with our solicitor.) We've also been advised that it would be futile to remove the kitchen as the flat is clearly purpose built with a bathroom, separate lavatory etc.
So, no easy solution but many thanks to all of the kind people who've taken the trouble to reply.

OJ32

I am currently going through the mortgage process for a property with an annex. Admittedly it is attached but Clydesdale Bank will allow letting of an annex while you live in the main property so perhaps they wouldn't have a problem with a detached annex?