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Renovations to leasehold property

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I’m considering putting an offer in for a property. The flat is part of a small block of flats.  However, one of the main reasons I’d buy it is on the condition that the wall between the kitchen and living room could be knocked down making it open plan.

However, the leaseholder is Southwark council, and on their website I can see it says, that they will not accept applications for the removal of structurally significant elements, including ‘load bearing’. The wall that I would like to remove, from what i can see, is load bearing (it runs the length of the house, directly through the middle, and is in the same place in the flats above).

Does anyone have any experience with something similar? Is there any options if it is load bearing e.g. put an archway in the wall instead of removing it completely. Or would any alterations be rejected?

Appreciate any help that people can offer.  



Comments

  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Sometimes easiest to check what other people have done before - have you had a look for similar flats to see what they've done?
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You would need to replace the wall with a suitable RSJ.
    But it would be perfectly normal for them to refuse structural work on a leasehold property, for obvious reasons.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • davidmcn said:
    Sometimes easiest to check what other people have done before - have you had a look for similar flats to see what they've done?
    I’ve seen pictures of the flat above, which is laid out in the same way. Other than that, I haven’t been able to find pictures of any of the other flats in the block. 
  • eddddy
    eddddy Posts: 17,942 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 8 November 2020 at 11:29PM
    jackms88 said:
    The flat is part of a small block of flats.  


    What is the construction of the block (and the wall)?

    If it's a reinforced concrete building and that's a reinforced concrete wall, removing the wall (or cutting an arch in it) is probably out of the question. (Don't be fooled by any exterior brickwork - reinforced concrete buildings often have brickwork skins.)

    But if the wall is blockwork or brickwork, it might technically be possible, by putting in a steel joist (RSJ).


    But you still have the issue of the lease and freeholder consent.

    • If the lease says you cannot make structural alterations "without freeholder consent" - the law says that consent cannot be unreasonably refused.
    • But if the lease just says you cannot make structural alterations (under any circumstances) - it's much tougher. There's some legislation that implies that a freeholder cannot stop a leaseholder making reasonable improvements to their flat, but you might end up with a court battle over that.  TBH, it's not the sort of battle I'd want to get into with a council.



  • From what I have heard if you want to make structural alterations the answer is always a NO if the landlord is a local authority.

  • hazyjo
    hazyjo Posts: 15,475 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There was a recent thread from a flat owner in exactly the same boat. The council had said no. No discussions etc.
    2024 wins: *must start comping again!*
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