Period conversion flats experiences, particularly in London

NameUnavailable

I like character properties and bought a Victorian conversion flat. The high ceilings and sash windows were nice features but you do need to remember that the property was built as a house, not intended as separate dwellings. 

Noise is an issue, often there's nothing separating the different floors apart from the normal floorboards/ceiling plasterboard, so you do have to be very tolerant and considerate to others. If you get an inconsiderate neighbour it can be hell! 

Also be very careful about the freehold situation. Ideally you want a shared freehold, if not that then a property company rather than a private individual who happens to own and or live in one of the flats. Another load of trouble can await you if that's the case. 

Older properties need more maintenance. Make sure the property is being looked after. 

As mentioned above a lot of conversions were carried out in the property boom of the late 80's and some were shockingly bad. I saw one where a simple stud partition wall separated two flats and you could hear everything between them. 

But you do find some very nice conversions which offer more that you might get in a purpose built block. Just be extra careful. 

HNHN

Alan2020 said:

Are you willing to put up with the noise and smells that will come from a shoddy conversion.  Buy a flat built tin o be a flat from the onset and do your research.  In my experience, reinforced concrete floors cut down most sound as does solid heavy walls.

The sleepless nights will make you regret a museum relic purchase and you will have odd shaped rooms that don't make sense, a former cupboard being a bedroom and a Toilet the master bedroom.

Even with purpose built ones, ensure you research into the design, I think some of the ones in Greenwich millennium village had noise issues, it was on the news at that time.

Yes, I am fully aware of those issues as I am currently renting a flat in a big Victorian house that was split into 4 flats and have no problem with the noise and smells. For me, the pros of conversion flats much outweight the cons and I am happy to put up with the small issues to have a place with more character.

HNHN

Thank you everyone for getting back to me - I really appreciate that. I now feel a lot more confident going ahead with the purchase as the only thing that worried me was the building certificate/ an old piece of paper as someone said. Other than that, I have no problem with some typical conversion flat issues often mentioned.

leypt1

HNHN said:

Thank you everyone for getting back to me - I really appreciate that. I now feel a lot more confident going ahead with the purchase as the only thing that worried me was the building certificate/ an old piece of paper as someone said. Other than that, I have no problem with some typical conversion flat issues often mentioned.

Just fyi, you do get Victorian purpose built flats which to the eye look quite similar to conversions but have some telltale signs, e.g. their own front door, direct access to their own bit of private garden (some even have internal staircases to the garden from the upper flat).

For examples of what I mean, take a look at the noel park conservation area in wood green or tremaine road in anerley, but once you know what to look for you'll start seeing them everywhere!

They have all the character but not the build quality issues of conversions.

Alan2020

HNHN said:

Alan2020 said:

Are you willing to put up with the noise and smells that will come from a shoddy conversion.  Buy a flat built tin o be a flat from the onset and do your research.  In my experience, reinforced concrete floors cut down most sound as does solid heavy walls.

The sleepless nights will make you regret a museum relic purchase and you will have odd shaped rooms that don't make sense, a former cupboard being a bedroom and a Toilet the master bedroom.

Even with purpose built ones, ensure you research into the design, I think some of the ones in Greenwich millennium village had noise issues, it was on the news at that time.

Yes, I am fully aware of those issues as I am currently renting a flat in a big Victorian house that was split into 4 flats and have no problem with the noise and smells. For me, the pros of conversion flats much outweight the cons and I am happy to put up with the small issues to have a place with more character.

You are welcome - you do realise that you can buy a period flat from that era.  You don't need to buy a conversion, just buy an original well designed one.  Renting and buying are not the same mind, when you are the owner some things aren't trivial, especially if you will loose £100K of your flat value due to a problem neighbour.

steve866

Alan2020 said:

steve866 said:

Alan2020 said:

Are you willing to put up with the noise and smells that will come from a shoddy conversion.  Buy a flat built to be a flat from the onset and do your research.  In my experience, reinforced concrete floors cut down most sound as does solid heavy walls.

The sleepless nights will make you regret a museum relic purchase and you will have odd shaped rooms that don't make sense, a former cupboard being a bedroom and a Toilet the master bedroom.

Even with purpose built ones, ensure you research into the design, I think some of the ones in Greenwich millennium village had noise issues, it was on the news at that time.

When I was in the market for a flat in London and looked only at Victorian conversion flats as opposed to purpose build based on:

-potential private garden 
-share of freehold
-decent proportioned rooms
-more reasonable ground rent / service charge 
-generally well built
-less likely to have cladding issues 

I’m by no means an expert and I don’t know about the noise, but in my opinion conversion flats seemed a lot better buy that purpose built. There’s also 1000s of them across London.

I ended up buying a freehold house in the end after saving for another couple of years.

So you didn't buy the Victorian flat conversion yourself, yet think it is better than a purpose built one ... hmmm

Yes I was fortune enough to buy a freehold house which trumps a flat of course. I would probably say my order of preference would be:

-house
-purpose built share of freehold flat (2/3 flats)
-conversion flat
-purpose built block 
-flat about commercial 

but like I said I’m no expert! Good luck OP