PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Buying a illegally subdivided house, risks?

Options
2»

Comments

  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,942 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    FreeBear said:
    flat_white_ said: 1. I don't think the current subdivision is legal as the house is still showing as one title on the land register. Would I inherent any legal risks?

    Check your local council's web site - Most (all?) councils maintain a database where you can see what band a property is in for council tax purposes. Starting point would be here - https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands



    There is no need to check a council's website for a CT band, just use the link provided. The VOA (not the local council) maintain the Valuation List for England and Wales and that link will lead you to it.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,942 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    flat_white_ said:
    FreeBear said:
    flat_white_ said: 1. I don't think the current subdivision is legal as the house is still showing as one title on the land register. Would I inherent any legal risks?

    Check your local council's web site - Most (all?) councils maintain a database where you can see what band a property is in for council tax purposes. Starting point would be here - https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands



     

    I can see the flats being individually listed on the council tax search sites. Not sure if this means the subdivision, most likely done ages ago, was legal? if so, not sure if it still counts as an amalgamation of flats given all of them were just rentals. sounds messy!
    In no way does a CT band indicate that a property has been built or converted or divided into more than one dwelling in accordance with planning laws or building regulations. 
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • michael1234
    michael1234 Posts: 679 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Isn't the planning issue rather moot as 4 years are likely to have passed since the change to flats and given there appears no obivsous attempt to hide the fact (e.g. as shown by 4 sets of council tax being payable) then presumably the vendor could obtain a certificate of lawfulness for the conversion.
  • user1977
    user1977 Posts: 17,925 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    michael1234 said:
    Isn't the planning issue rather moot as 4 years are likely to have passed since the change to flats and given there appears no obivsous attempt to hide the fact (e.g. as shown by 4 sets of council tax being payable) then presumably the vendor could obtain a certificate of lawfulness for the conversion.
    It's moot if it's all going to be undone anyway! If the worst case scenario is the planners issuing an enforcement notice that it's to be converted back into a single house....that seems to be the OP's plan.
  • flat_white_
    flat_white_ Posts: 23 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts
    thanks again guys - seems to be quite a project! 
  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,570 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Planning permission to revert to a single dwelling could be an issue.  Some local authorities are not keen on reducing the number of dwellings in a building and PP for this can not be considered automatic.
  • peterhjohnson
    peterhjohnson Posts: 469 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Consider offering £X for the property with vacant posession. The vendor might then solve the issue of the tenants (EG by paying them off) 
    (My username is not related to my real name)
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 18,268 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    peterhjohnson said: Consider offering £X for the property with vacant posession. The vendor might then solve the issue of the tenants (EG by paying them off) 
    Nope. Tell the vendor that the offer is subject to vacant possession before exchange along with a final check for damage. Anything less is just inviting trouble.
    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177K Life & Family
  • 257.6K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture