Buying a flat, do I need a survey?

RonSwanson

Hello,

I'm a first time buyer looking to purchase a flat on the top floor of a large victorian house.

Do I need to get a survey done before I buy? I know that's the normal for someone buying a house but is the process different when buying a flat? I'm guessing it would be pretty difficult to survey the whole building including other people's flats. Also, with being on the top floor, do I need to make sure the roof is in good condition?

And who pays for the roof if it needs work doing?

Sorry if these are newbie questions. I spent a long time googling it and found lots of conflicting advice.

Smodlet

Hello and welcome to the forum. I am no expert but, if this flat is a conversion in an older house, I would get a survey done and ask that particular attention is paid to the roof/loft space.

Flats are almost always leasehold (except, I believe, in Scotland) so you and the other residents will be liable for ground rent and/or service charges on an ongoing basis. Part of these monies will be for maintenance and repair of communal areas including the roof. After all, the other flats may have a dwelling rather than a roof immediately above them but they still need the roof to be in good condition.

You would be well advised to enquire into these charges before making any commitment as they vary widely. You need to make sure you can afford them as well as your mortgage payments unless you are a cash buyer.

HTH.

RonSwanson

Thanks for the quick response. Yep it's a leasehold and the estate agent told me it's £1,300 per annum for ground rent and service charge but "doesn't include insurance". I don't think I quite understand what the insurance is. Will the service charge cover the roof maintenance or is that what insurance covers? Cheers

Tiglet2

The freeholder (or Management Company) will have block insurance for the structure of the building. Your service charges will cover most general maintenance but there may be occasions when the freeholder/man company issue Section 20 Notices which pre-warn you of major works to be done. The cost of the major works is split amongst all leaseholders and if there is enough in the kitty (sinking fund), you may not have to contribute any additional funds over and above the normal service charge. However, expensive items (particularly in an old Victorian house (is it listed?), such as replacing the roof, replacement windows etc may mean all leaseholders have to contribute over and above their normal service charges, so best to have a contingency fund for these unexpected surprises!

Smodlet

Tiglet2's explanation was far better than mine. A pleasant surprise, if not altogether unexpected.

The phrase, "doesn't include insurance" requires clarification, I feel. I would want to know beyond all possible doubt that the freeholder's insurance does include the requisite buildings insurance. Again, I am no expert but know you will have to have your own contents insurance (obviously) and think you still need buildings insurance to cover any damage you might cause.

That is where my knowledge fades to guesswork as I have only ever bought houses and rented flats. I hope I have not muddied the issue. Best to wait for Tiglet2's return, perhaps.

Good luck in your new home, RonSwanson.