Commercial element to property

Skateyj

I'm really hoping some of you will be able to give me advice. I posted this elsewhere and it was recommended I move it to here. 

I have had an offer accepted on a property which consists of a 3 bedroomed house with a tiny one up, one down cottage (literally just two empty rooms with no stairs!) attached which was used as a doctor's surgery. The council say that this element is still classed as a commercial property. 

I have a house to sell which is on a buy to let mortgage and if it sells soon, I could buy the new house with the equity, also the large deposit I already have and a £25,000 personal loan but I feel this is really risky as I'll be maxed out.

I cannot get a residential mortgage because of the commercial element but I have been offered a bridging loan for the obvious obscene % interest. I'm also having trouble getting a structural survey because of this commercial element. 

Do you think I would be able to ask the vendors to apply for change of use if I agree to pay the £500 it would cost? I could then have a residential mortgage and also have money from the sale of my current buy to let to upgrade the new house.

I'm getting a little bogged down with figuring out the best course of action to not lose the house.

Thank you in advance! 

diggingdude

You could ask them, they might do it, they might get change of use, they might then ask for more money as there is a second residential property/more space. 

I know that was no help but that would be my concern 

ACG

For a residential mortgage (according to the FCA) only 40% of the property has to be residential. 
There might be a lender who will take a view on this. 

It is not something I have had to research before, but I know some lenders can take a view. I think it is Nationwide who allow a B&B for example up to so many rooms and a cattery - or at least they did do a few years back. I am not recommending Nationwide, but just giving examples that are in some ways similar. Probably one of those where you (or a broker) is going to need to do a lot of leg work. 

But as you suggest, the sellers are going to have this problem regardless of who they sell to so it could be in their interests to do it. But you may be able to still get a mortgage regardless with a bit of work.