In the process of buying an ex council flat - should I be worried about large bills for major works?

Raneynickel4

Im in the process of buying an ex council flat in a small village. However, after doing a bit of research, I found out about leaseholders being charged extortionate (5 figure) bills which they sometimes can't contest and I'm starting to wonder if I want to risk buying an ex council flat. It's a good location and a decent size, but the idea of being billed £25000 is making me feel a bit sick. 

Three questions... 
1. Can people here who have bought/are currently in an ex council flat share their experiences and whether they've been hit with massive bills? 
2. How do I know if the council is planning any major works - is this something I can find out through solicitors via enquiries to seller? 
3. Seems like London boroughs are notorious for charging large bills but anyone got any experience with Canterbury City Council? 

HampshireH

There are several recent threads on higher bills after purchase. If you search ex council flat or major works they should come up for you.

It's common. If notice has been served it should come up/be disclosed pre purchase

kasqueak

I owned and lived in an ex council flat for 10 years but have since sold it. 

If there is any work that has been proposed then your solicitor should be able to advise and find this out for you. It’ll differ among councils
of course but where I lived they would send out lists of proposed works for the next 2-3 years. 

Any flat in a leasehold building will be liable for a share in repairs, regardless if it’s council or not. In my experience though the council seem to over pay for repairs so the bills can be higher. 

Major works would be anything to the roof or replacement windows. Things like that. Make sure you have a survey done to check how good these major parts are and if they’re likely to need replacing. 

All you can do is veg your solicitor to investigate and or contact the council or current residents yourself and make an informed choice. 

Personally I’d never buy ex council again. My main reason is that I felt as a leaseholder i had very little say / input into matters and council tenants were listened to more than me. When I had problem neighbours (council tenants) who were clearly in breach of their lease the council took their side and I got no where in my complaint. 

I actually ended up selling my flat back to the council when I moved! 

Raneynickel4

kasqueak said:

I owned and lived in an ex council flat for 10 years but have since sold it. 

If there is any work that has been proposed then your solicitor should be able to advise and find this out for you. It’ll differ among councils
of course but where I lived they would send out lists of proposed works for the next 2-3 years. 

Any flat in a leasehold building will be liable for a share in repairs, regardless if it’s council or not. In my experience though the council seem to over pay for repairs so the bills can be higher. 

Major works would be anything to the roof or replacement windows. Things like that. Make sure you have a survey done to check how good these major parts are and if they’re likely to need replacing. 

All you can do is veg your solicitor to investigate and or contact the council or current residents yourself and make an informed choice. 

Personally I’d never buy ex council again. My main reason is that I felt as a leaseholder i had very little say / input into matters and council tenants were listened to more than me. When I had problem neighbours (council tenants) who were clearly in breach of their lease the council took their side and I got no where in my complaint. 

I actually ended up selling my flat back to the council when I moved! 

Thanks for your input. But if I do try to contact the council, would they actually impart me with that information? I suppose it depends on the council but it doesn't seem like information any council would be happy to just give out. Did you get billed for anything major in the 10 years you lived there? 

sammyjammy

you say its in a village so I am assuming its not a high rise!  What is the make up of the building?  2 ground and two first? Its your solicitor that should contact the council, I am sure there is a formal request.  How does the roof look?  Can you see any signs of things needing maintenance?  Have the windows been replaced?
Have you spoken to the neighbours?  It might be worth knowing whether they are still council tenancies or if the leaseholder lives in the flat?

Gemm83

@Raneynickel4
I'm you! Currently purchasing ex council (now housing auth). Very concerned about massive bills 🙄
Fortunately my daughter already goes to school in the village so know a number of people who live on the complex and have been assured that no major works are planned. Roof was done 2 years ago, windows within past 6-7 years and communal areas are pristine. No lifts to maintain. We've been told the solicitors will be given a management pack which will list previous/possible upcoming works and if there is anything shifty looking we would (very reluctantly) walk away. It's a massive "what if" and there is a risk but we've waited so long to get on the ladder it's a risk we are prepared to take! 

user1977

Raneynickel4 said:

kasqueak said:

I owned and lived in an ex council flat for 10 years but have since sold it. 

If there is any work that has been proposed then your solicitor should be able to advise and find this out for you. It’ll differ among councils
of course but where I lived they would send out lists of proposed works for the next 2-3 years. 

Any flat in a leasehold building will be liable for a share in repairs, regardless if it’s council or not. In my experience though the council seem to over pay for repairs so the bills can be higher. 

Major works would be anything to the roof or replacement windows. Things like that. Make sure you have a survey done to check how good these major parts are and if they’re likely to need replacing. 

All you can do is veg your solicitor to investigate and or contact the council or current residents yourself and make an informed choice. 

Personally I’d never buy ex council again. My main reason is that I felt as a leaseholder i had very little say / input into matters and council tenants were listened to more than me. When I had problem neighbours (council tenants) who were clearly in breach of their lease the council took their side and I got no where in my complaint. 

I actually ended up selling my flat back to the council when I moved! 

But if I do try to contact the council, would they actually impart me with that information? I suppose it depends on the council but it doesn't seem like information any council would be happy to just give out.

You don't contact the council, your solicitor gets the info via the vendor's solicitor (who gets it from the freeholder). It's a standard part of the process, if you don't know the answer then it's probably because the transaction hasn't reached that stage yet.

Mildreds_Earrings

Thanks for your input. But if I do try to contact the council, would they actually impart me with that information? I suppose it depends on the council but it doesn't seem like information any council would be happy to just give out. 

The Council won't give you any information. The Seller will have to pay the Council for a Leasehold Information Pack. The Council will declare proposed major works and approximate costs for the next two years, as part of the document.  I work for a Housing Association and when we complete the document, we provide proposed major works details, for the next five years. 

Most of the time, the Seller will pay but I have known occasions where the Seller got the Buyer to pay for the leasehold pack. 

On occasion, no one purchases a leasehold information pack, then after the sale goes through, the Buyer complains to us saying they didn't know about proposed major works, like it's our fault! Not being aware of major works because you haven't carried out due diligence, isn't the landlord's fault. If S20 Consultation was carried out correctly, then you will still have to pay. My advice to you is to ensure your Seller purchases the Leasehold Information Pack. If you have a good Solicitor, they should insist on this document anyway. All the best. 

Raneynickel4

sammyjammy said:

you say its in a village so I am assuming its not a high rise!  What is the make up of the building?  2 ground and two first? Its your solicitor that should contact the council, I am sure there is a formal request.  How does the roof look?  Can you see any signs of things needing maintenance?  Have the windows been replaced?
Have you spoken to the neighbours?  It might be worth knowing whether they are still council tenancies or if the leaseholder lives in the flat?

Nope, not a high rise. Two floors, and two flats on each floor. I'm not really a roof expert but it looks fine? Nothing really stood out to me as needing maintenance in the communal areas. I will definitely ask my solicitors since that seems to be my only option... 

Raneynickel4

Gemm83 said:

@Raneynickel4
I'm you! Currently purchasing ex council (now housing auth). Very concerned about massive bills 🙄
Fortunately my daughter already goes to school in the village so know a number of people who live on the complex and have been assured that no major works are planned. Roof was done 2 years ago, windows within past 6-7 years and communal areas are pristine. No lifts to maintain. We've been told the solicitors will be given a management pack which will list previous/possible upcoming works and if there is anything shifty looking we would (very reluctantly) walk away. It's a massive "what if" and there is a risk but we've waited so long to get on the ladder it's a risk we are prepared to take! 

Sounds like you've done your due diligence and it's looking positive! I did read one poster on here who spoke positive things about their council freeholder, so fingers crossed yours and mine aren't going to take the !!!!!! and charge extortionate fees!

Raneynickel4

Mildreds_Earrings said:

Thanks for your input. But if I do try to contact the council, would they actually impart me with that information? I suppose it depends on the council but it doesn't seem like information any council would be happy to just give out. 

The Council won't give you any information. The Seller will have to pay the Council for a Leasehold Information Pack. The Council will declare proposed major works and approximate costs for the next two years, as part of the document.  I work for a Housing Association and when we complete the document, we provide proposed major works details, for the next five years. 

Most of the time, the Seller will pay but I have known occasions where the Seller got the Buyer to pay for the leasehold pack. 

On occasion, no one purchases a leasehold information pack, then after the sale goes through, the Buyer complains to us saying they didn't know about proposed major works, like it's our fault! Not being aware of major works because you haven't carried out due diligence, isn't the landlord's fault. If S20 Consultation was carried out correctly, then you will still have to pay. My advice to you is to ensure your Seller purchases the Leasehold Information Pack. If you have a good Solicitor, they should insist on this document anyway. All the best. 

Thank you, that's useful information. Does the leasehold information pack also contain major works that have been done in the past, or does it only contain upcoming work? Because if for example the leasehold info pack says that the roof was done up 2 years ago, it's highly unlikely to come up again for at least a good couple of years (or maybe even decade) and that info would be very handy.