Advice on purchase of basement flat

fridaysc

Can someone please give me some advice? I am considering purchasing a basement flat, I have looked at several flats and like the idea of having my own entrance and also having a patio area at the back. The flat has two bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and is an ok size. I realise that the flat will be dark and the day I went,l was quite dull so difficult to see what it would be like in a brighter day. I am willing to live with it being dull as a compromise for the things mentioned above.

My question is what kind of things should I be aware of and what kind of survey do I need?The flat had been let so needs new bathroom, kitchen, flooring etc.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

G_M

Main issues are lack of natural light and risk of damp.

Time2go

Damp damp and more damp potentially rodents as well.

HampshireH

There was a recent thread on here by someone renting a basement flat who was significantly put out by the level of lose transfer from above. May be something to consider. If designed to be flat or whether it was converted may have an influence on the level of soundproofing materials used
.

HampshireH

*noise not lose. Apologies for auto correct.

Slinky

Can't imagine a basement flat being anything other than a conversion.

dimbo61

Has the basement flat been tanked properly ?
Recent new paint job to hide the damp !
Any signs of damp in the flat.
Low level drain with pump ?
You can overcome many of the light problems with modern LED lighting.
If you are putting in a new bathroom and kitchen then install Quiet/Silent extractor fans which come out with sensors once someone enters the room and run for 20/30 minutes afterwards.

goodwithsaving

My advice with basement flats: don't.

Murphybear

I lived in a basement flat in Balham many years ago. I got home one day and the front door had been forced open. My one and only burglary. The police came round to take fingerprints (those were the days:rotfl:) and I was told that basement flats were particularly vulnerable:(

The kitchen sink used to block up a lot, another problem of being in the basement.

So if you go ahead with it my advice is make sure you have a strong door and lock and don't put anything you shouldn't down the sink.

zagubov

Damp, dark, noisy.
When the people upstairs blocked their toilet, "brown water" dripped from our ceiling lightbulbs. :eek:

Tom99

lack of light, damp and drains would be my three concerns.