Flat - Share of Freehold & want to make immediate alterations

AdrianC

There really is no difference at all in the process of requesting consent.

You, the leaseholder, request consent to change the layout (or extend the lease or vary the lease or whatever)
The freeholding company decides whether to grant it or not.

The ONLY difference is that you have a very small part in making that decision, as a shareholder in the freeholding company.

If you only want the flat with the ability to change the layout, then you have a choice...
1. Take a gamble, buy, and hope to change - if not, sell again.
2. Get in contact with the freeholder, and ask about the likelihood of change - obviously, you need to liase with the vendor to make sure they're happy with what could become a protracted process with a possibility of no sale at the end.
3. Walk.

sal_III

I really wouldn't proceed to exchange without at least an informal consent from the other Freeholders that they wouldn't oppose the alterations, provided that all building regs. are followed and a structural survey is done to ensure the wall removed is not load bearing.

Best case scenario you should ask for a formal consent in principle if certain conditions are met.

Otherwise your "dream" home, can turn up into a buyer's remorse.

nkarma

cybervic wrote: »

I went through the similar thing last year, I wanted a wall removed but didn't know if that's possible in a flat I was buying.

I got a "consent in principle" from freeholder's managing agent before exchange. It basically said it's possible to make structural alteration provided X conditions are met (and they listed the conditions and fees).

Thank you! This and the freeholder's response above are all very useful and we'll definitely proceed with trying for a consent in principle.

Can I ask what the conditions were? Was it something like:
-comply with applicable laws including building regulation approval and planning permission if required
- instruct Structural Engineer inspection and preparation of plans and calculations for all non-structural and structural alterations to internal walls
-provide full architectural plans for review
-hours of work between 8:00 and 17:00

And finally, did you agree this by contacting Freeholder directly, or through estate agent, vendor, or your solicitor? We currently don't have direct contact with vendor.

eddddy

nkarma wrote: »

Can I ask what the conditions were?

FWIW, the conditions I had included stuff like:

• All carpets and balustrades in common areas to be protected during working hours, and protection removed at end of day

• All carpets in common areas to be vacuumed at the end of each day

• No building materials or waste to be stored in common areas (that might have included the garden, if there was one)

• Undertaking to make good any damage caused to common areas

The concerns were waste plaster dust, dirty builders boots, damage caused by carrying in large sheets of plaster board.

TBH, maybe they should have also said something about measures to stop plaster dust etc coming out of the flat into the common areas.

nkarma

Thanks edddy - your responses are very pragmatic and feasible which are very useful.