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Offering on house that is leasehold - advice needed

2

Comments

  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There are some really long leases about where the freeholder disappeared hundreds of years ago. I think the answer is indemnity insurance against the small chance that someone turns up who has inherited the freehold.
  • tealady
    tealady Posts: 3,851 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Hi
    For a small sum (about £3 I think) you can download the leasehold details. Just make sue you go to the official land registry website (I usually follow the link on the gov.uk site) HTH
    Find out who you are and do that on purpose (thanks to Owain Wyn Jones quoting Dolly Parton)
  • kingfisherblue
    kingfisherblue Posts: 9,203 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    I've only ever lived in a leasehold house (I'm in the North West, where it is quite common). The first house is my parents' and my mum still lives there - £9 ground rent per year for a three bedroomed bungalow. The first house I owned was a two bedroomed terrace and ground rent was £1.20 per year. I now own a house round the corner from my mum and I pay £9 per year for a three bedroomed semi.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    elverson wrote: »
    Ask them to confirm whether it's 'share of freehold'.
    <holds head in hands>
    Did you actually read the OP? It's a house. The freeholder is absent.
  • amateur_house
    amateur_house Posts: 277 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    There are a lot of leasehold houses in the area I live in (North West), the house I am in the process of buying has 5000 years remaining from the date it was built, and ground rent of £3 a year. The only advice my solicitor gave was that if I plan on making significant alterations to the external appearance of the house I should discuss it with them.
  • moneyistooshorttomention
    moneyistooshorttomention Posts: 17,940 Forumite
    edited 13 January 2017 at 7:15AM
    dpullen1987 wrote: »
    Thanks for the advice, basically stay well clear then?

    The property in question is rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46219551.html

    www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46219551.html

    One quick look - and, with it being a semi-detached - then surely that would mean the attached neighbour is likely to also be a leasehold house?

    Have you tried talking to them - to see if they can cast any light on this? It doesn't look a bad house - so I can see why you're interested in it. But...yes....I would be very very cautious as to whether it really was effectively freehold or no and would be making detailed enquiries.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    *~Zephyr~* wrote: »
    If the Freeholder is "absent", how did they get permission to do the extension?

    You don't need to get permission unless the lease says you do.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    davidmcn wrote: »
    You don't need to get permission unless the lease says you do.
    Even then, permission is only relevant if the freeholder finds out.
  • moneyistooshorttomention
    moneyistooshorttomention Posts: 17,940 Forumite
    AdrianC wrote: »
    Even then, permission is only relevant if the freeholder finds out.

    Would one take out an indemnity policy specifically against that then?
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »
    Would one take out an indemnity policy specifically against that then?
    Somebody would almost certainly be delighted to sell you one, if you really wanted.
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