Remortgage disputing the flat position?

akira181

I'm currently sorting out a remortgage and my broker found Atom Bank as the best deal.  During the remortgage process, Atom are querying the flat position.  In their email, they have said "The property is described in the Legal Title as being the right hand house on the top or third floor above the ground floor of the tenement with no flat position being given (I assume they mean flat number, not position here).  Going by that description, when standing in the road facing the entrance of the building, your property would be located to the right side of the entrance on the third floor."

However, using their method and standing on the street and facing the entrance, my flat is on the left of the building entrance.  The legal title Atom have received is the same as the one we received when we bought this place 2 years ago.  My flat number is 3/2 and I always thought the even number was on the right.  If a mistake has been made somewhere, wouldn't HSBC have flagged it with the original mortgage application?

I live in Scotland if that makes a difference.  Anyone got any idea where this confusion is stemming from?

Thanks in advance!

MovingForwards

You've got my sympathy! My location is based on being inside the building eg left and right but I also have a letter as someone decided to do them a - d at some point. I've been trying to get gas / electric sorted since I moved in May (my property doesn't exist, but it does, but it doesn't!)

Check with registers of Scotland.
https://scotlis.ros.gov.uk/
Means you can have a look to see how your neighbours are recorded. Plus the plans are free, which may not be much use as it tends to cover the entire area 🤨 but potentially piece it all together.

davidmcn

"Right hand" means the direction you turn when you get to your landing - is that correct for your flat? Right hand flats are usually "/2". Did they say why they think that's incorrect? It's not clear from your post.

akira181

They are claiming right hand flat means when you are standing in the road, facing the front entrance of the building, the flat should be on the right of the entrance, which it isn't. 

davidmcn

akira181 said:

They are claiming right hand flat means when you are standing in the road, facing the front entrance of the building, the flat should be on the right of the entrance, which it isn't. 

Well, they're wrong. I suggest whoever is dealing with it consults with colleagues who understands these things better.
(this is why it's more common in title deeds to refer to e.g. the "eastmost" flat on the second floor, as that avoids confusion about which way people are facing!)

pramsay13

The /1 flat I lived in in Scotland was right looking at it from outside and left when you come up the stairs.
The /2 flat I lived in in Scotland was left looking at it from outside and right when you come up the stairs. 

[Deleted User]

pramsay13 said:

The /1 flat I lived in in Scotland was right looking at it from outside and left when you come up the stairs.
The /2 flat I lived in in Scotland was left looking at it from outside and right when you come up the stairs. 

opposite for me.  I lived in a 2/1 which was 2nd floor but on the left hand side when looking at the building from the street

davidmcn

Deleted_User said:

pramsay13 said:

The /1 flat I lived in in Scotland was right looking at it from outside and left when you come up the stairs.
The /2 flat I lived in in Scotland was left looking at it from outside and right when you come up the stairs. 

opposite for me.  I lived in a 2/1 which was 2nd floor but on the left hand side when looking at the building from the street

But what side was it when you came up the stairs? That's what matters.

akira181

I argued this point and even sent them a document from Glasgow City Council that explained flat numbering methods, which is described as Flat 1 on the left and numbered in a clockwise direction as you step onto the landing.  After escalating to a manager, they eventually agreed when I said I would change my address with the bank to 3/R if that would make them feel better.  

Beginning to regret going for a lesser known digital bank for my remortgage now.  Hopefully they get it sorted in time, it's already taken 2 months and my current mortgage is up at the end of this month.