Would you buy a converted flat if you had a choice?

macaque_2

In my view, flats converted from old houses are (for the most part) a con. The communal areas never look like they were intended to serve multiple dwellings and things like lifts are a complete non starter. Noise transmission through the floors and walls is often dreaful. The number of dwellings within the buildings are usually insufficient to justify an independent management company. As a result, flat owners often end up at logger heads with each other. The buildings are often Victorian houses riddled with problems like dry rot and subsidence. If one party fails to pay their insurance, large maintenance bills turn into intractible problems. Liability for shared amenities can be difficult to tie down because of the unusual shapes of converted properties. If the owner of the garden fails to maintain it, everyone else suffers.

I would be interested to know what other people's views are on this subject.

pinkshoes

Personally I hate houses that have been converted into flats! The noise levels are awful which often leads to conflicts between neighbours (mate of mine had an upstairs one, and neighbour below would moan about her walking across the carpet in shoes... and if she put the washing machine on, it sounded like thunder for an hour!), and it should have been kept as a large family home, as they don't seem to be building any at the moment!

The EA tried tempting me with a few flat conversions, but didn't like any of them!!

emg

I live in a converted flat and looked at around 30 flats before I bought. I found that conversions generally had much more space, the rooms were far bigger than purpose-built flats. This house is quite old and the walls are all brick rather than plasterboard so the noise doesnt carry that much. My friend in a tiny new-build flat definitely has more problems with noise than me. The only point I would agree on is that the communual area is a bit small.

epz_2

up in glasgow we have a lot of conversions which are basicly the top and bottom floors turned into seperate flats, because the original houses were massive parking/garden issues etc arnt that bad.

while noise transmission may be an issue 12 foot celings and solid floors should make them better than most, that said if i were getting on i would still only get the top half, you might get stuck with the roof bill but at least you are in control of your own denstiny.

Doozergirl

New conversions have far, far better sound proofing and fireboarding than older conversions where they can actually be non-existant and therefore shockingly unsafe. For that reason I would not live in an older conversion again. Conversions post 2002 with building regs willbe built to the same standards as new build.

Some of the other points outlined in the OP are just as likely to happen in a purpose built block as a conversion.

I have lived in 70s and 80s purpose built flats and noise has never been an issue, except when one upstairs neighbour took too much of a liking to this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt-KMPvgKPo
by the aptly named NO MERCY! It was constant and you could hear it down the street. He thought he was so cool.

cattie

I've lived in a few flats but only ever been interested in purpose built properties because of the noise issues. Houses that have been converted were never built with multi-occupancy in mind, so the sound insulation between dwellings is usually non existant.

doglover_3

We bought our first property back in 91, house converted into 2 flats we had the ground floor. It was the biggest mistake we made, had constant noise above even just by walking and different tenannts all the time also whenever there was a major problem such roof etc getting the other party to agree and the worse was having another party held the freehold of the full house, a nightmare to sell also if one can avoid go for purpose flats but not house converted.

LouBlue

I live in a victorian house that is converted into 2 flats. I love it - been here 8 years. I am on the top floor, lovely large rooms, high ceilings and I hardly hear the couple downstairs. I don't like purpose built, too small and no character.

doglover_3

hum, i wonder if they feel the same downstairs...

LouBlue

doglover wrote: »

hum, i wonder if they feel the same downstairs...

lol They've lived down there ages, we all get on really well.

Rimo2021

macaque wrote: »

In my view, flats converted from old houses are (for the most part) a con. The communal areas never look like they were intended to serve multiple dwellings and things like lifts are a complete non starter. .

No! The communal areas are generally more generously proportioned and beautifully designed as they were originally part of the home instead of a mere corridor! And most are only a couple of storeys with maybe an attic and a basement so although a lack of lift will make tham unsuitable for some people, most can cope with (and benefit from!) a couple of flights of sweeping carpeted stairs!

macaque wrote: »

Noise transmission through the floors and walls is often dreaful. .

But the generous ceiling heights make installing sound-proofing a doddle if it is necessary..

macaque wrote: »

The number of dwellings within the buildings are usually insufficient to justify an independent management company. As a result, flat owners often end up at logger heads with each other.

Can't speak for other councils, but in edinburgh the council offers a management service for a very reasonable fee and will deal with problems like these meaning occupiers don't end up paying hefty fees to management companies which are (for the most part) a con.

macaque wrote: »

The buildings are often Victorian houses riddled with problems like dry rot and subsidence. If one party fails to pay their insurance, large maintenance bills turn into intractible problems. Liability for shared amenities can be difficult to tie down because of the unusual shapes of converted properties. If the owner of the garden fails to maintain it, everyone else suffers. .

Victorian buildings are far far far far and away better built than today's newbuild rubbishy shoe-boxes!!!! In Scotland buildings insurance is a legal requirement, if there is a major problem the council puts a statutory notice on the building and if an agreement is not reached within a set period has the power to carry out necessary work and chase the individual for payment. Liability for shared amenities is often covered in the title deeds or, if not, is covered by the catch-all tenements act.

Even if you live in a terraced new build you can easily be adversely affected by neglected neigbouring gardens, this is not a problem specific to conversions!