Were

fleur8

I now understand that the clauses are standard thanks for the replies 

anselld

What do you mean by "challenge"?   You are unlikely to get any variation in the lease if it is an existing lease.
You could ask for the specification of the soundproofing material to see if it provides the "same level of sound protection" and you should confirm via the normal enquiries that there are no noise disputes.  However, there must be some risk that you could be required to replace the wood flooring if neighbours complain. 

greatcrested

Then you can request changes to it.

That would depend on agreemet from both joit freeholders.

Is it 1st floor? If the joint freeholder lives below he is unlikely to agree and risk listening to you clonking about.

hazyjo

fleur8 said:

greatcrested said:

Then you can request changes to it.

That would depend on agreemet from both joit freeholders.

Is it 1st floor? If the joint freeholder lives below he is unlikely to agree and risk listening to you clonking about.

Yes it is. 

I was not aware that I was to purchase the property on the condition of having to change all the flooring to carpets. In that case I’d rather pull out if I’m honest. 

You'll find that clause in most flats above ground floor level (and many including ground floor!).

greatcrested

It's a common clause in leases especially flats that are not ground floor.

For obvious reasons.

NameUnavailable

Most leases have the same clause about carpets regardless of which floor they are on. A lot of newbuilds have imitation wood flooring (some kind of vinyl) which must offer similar sound deadening to carpet. Laminate flooring is an issue though as your footsteps might 'clatter' to the people underneath (and even if it was the flat below it will bounce sounds and make noise more audible).

I guess if there's been no issue so far then it should be OK as long as you don't walk about with 'noisy' shoes or drag chairs etc., but ultimately the other leaseholder could enforce the terms of the lease if they had cause to complain.

The stuff about signs is mostly to stop estate agents signs or possibly any sort of commercial use. Nothing to worry about.

Tiglet2

Does your solicitor know that there is wooden flooring instead of carpet?  If not, bring it to his attention and he can raise it as an enquiry to the seller's solicitor - the vendor may be required to replace with carpet.  Yes, it is a common clause.

loubel

These are standard clauses. Ask your solicitor to raise an enquiry for the seller to confirm that the flooring is compliant with the clause requiring sound proofed flooring. Then you have it in writing from the freeholder (as you say this is a new lease) that the floors don't breach the lease.

I can't imagine anyone would complain if your kids put up an NHS picture, but if they did you just take it down. 

nicmyles

My old flat had a similar clause but with an exemption for the kitchen. It was an open-plan flat with a large kitchen/diner/living room, which led to a bizarre conversation with the buyer's solicitors when we came to sell it in which they appeared to be insisting we needed to carpet part of a room.

As per the suggestion above, we as the seller got it in writing from the freeholder that the current arrangement was fine. Sale progressed with no problems.

jimbog

A few big rugs/runners would do the trick

AskAsk

as others have said they are quite standard clauses in a lease.  the carpet is to protect the neighbours from noise.  if the neighbours complain about the wooden floor then you would have to make sure there is adequate sound proofing.

the sign on the window is to stop people putting stupid signs up, like BNP signs.  i really hate people putting political signs on their windows.