residential garage purchase, few queries

AbbieCadabra

looking for any advice on the following if possible

we purchased a leasehold flat earlier this year & there's now one of the garages possibly available to buy. it's a small block of flats on a 999 year lease & the freehold will transfer to equal shares between all owners in 4 years time.

we'd be buying off another owner, so not sure if this be a linked purchase for stamp duty or if SD even applies?

I contacted an online conveyancing company as thought it might be cheaper, but they advised they couldn't quote & best to use a local solicitor. so will it be exactly the same process for buying again? i.e. all searches etc. carried out on flat, will need to be done again? no other way to buy with cheaper legal fees at all?

thanks for any replies

G_M

Linked transaction to what? The transfer of the freehold in 4 years? No.

'Residential garage' is surely an oxymoron.

I doubt SDLT applies. I would have thought this was non residential.mixed use:
https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/nonresidential-and-mixed-use-rates

Don't see why you need searches etc unless you are getting a mortgage and the lender insists.

Is the garage on it's own Title? Leaehold? Or is it part of the seller's combined flat+garage title which will need splitting? You'd probably need the freeholder's agreement too in that latter case as the seller's lease would also need to be altered.

If a stand-alone Title, why not DIY the conveyancing

AbbieCadabra

when I contacted our solicitor who acted for us on the purchase of the flat, she said she'd have to check if this would be a 'linked purchase for stamp duty' ?

her quote for conveyancing was pretty much the same as what we paid for the purchase of the flat, all the same searches etc. No mortgage needed so we'll contact a few other local companies for quotes now. & look at the possibility of DIY conveyancing, thanks.

not sure about the garage being on it's own title, possibly yes as there's only a few garages & they were available separately to buy at extra cost if buying a flat. it will be leasehold for now, all freehold will transfer as stated earlier.

davidmcn

G_M wrote: »

I would have thought this was non residential.mixed use:
https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/nonresidential-and-mixed-use-rates

I think a garage ancillary to a residential property counts as residential. After all, it wouldn't be "mixed" if you bought both at the same time? If under £40k no need for an SDLT return anyway.

G_M

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

when I contacted our solicitor who acted for us on the purchase of the flat, she said she'd have to check if this would be a 'linked purchase for stamp duty' ?

I repeat: limked to what? The forthcoming freehold purchase? Or do you mean your purchase earlier this year of the flat?

AbbieCadabra

G_M wrote: »

I repeat: limked to what? The forthcoming freehold purchase? Or do you mean your purchase earlier this year of the flat?

earlier purchase of the flat. the freehold won't be a purchase, it's in our leases that it will transfer to the owners.

also, if the flat that originally purchased this garage has only one price listing on land reg. (total paid for flat & garage), that will mean thy're on one title & need to be spilt I presume?

sorry you've had to ask again, complete novice at this & only quoted what my solicitor had said to me.

thanks