How do I combine two houses into one 8 March at 10:43AM in Mortgages & endowments 8 replies 439 views

midnightdisney

I own two semi-detached houses. One is fully paid off the other has a mortgage. 

I want to make internal changes which needs only building regulations to make it flow as one house.
I want to block off one front door which needs planning permission.
I want to then combine all bills such as gas, elec, water, council tax into one and make one house number. 

However, I am finding it difficult to make them into one house as no mortgage company will allow two title deeds onto one mortgage. Any advice please? I don’t want to add any further money to the mortgage, just combine into one. Thank you for any advice. 

diystarter7

Hi

Can you not add the title to the house that is mortgaged and therefore further safeguard the lenders interests?

Unless the value is sub 250k, I can't see a problem with that.

Indeed, even when agreed you will need to update them re major works/alertattions

I'm sure others will come up with better ideas

Thnaks

midnightdisney

Hi, I have been told I cannot combine the title deeds as one house is mortgaged. To combine I would need both houses paid off fully. 

ACG

Are you doing it in the wrong order? 
Make the 2 in to one property structurally. 
Get the council tax sorted, 
Get the utilities sorted. 
Then speak to your lender or remortgage to a new lender and at the same time combine the 2 titles into one. 

diystarter7

ACG said:

Are you doing it in the wrong order? 
Make the 2 in to one property structurally. 
Get the council tax sorted, 
Get the utilities sorted. 
Then speak to your lender or remortgage to a new lender and at the same time combine the 2 titles into one. 

Thnak you, you've expelained it better than I have

I was thinking, if you add an extension to your home, often it increases value and adding a complete house and land should not worry the lenders as long as they are kept informed.

Thnaks

BdetteNoDebt

Having investigated this for myself, the starting point is with your council.
You need to know whether they will allow you to join the houses. 
We have two semi's and we were not allowed to join them in any way. 
I hope that helps you.

midnightdisney

My mortgage company won’t allow me to make any changes to combine it as one as it breeches the mortgage contract. I have tired getting a mortgage with both title deeds into one mortgage and no one will do this either. 

ACG

Strictly speaking you need a bridging loan. 
I doubt most people in a similar position go down that route due to the expense. 

user1977

As above you'll need to move to some form of development finance while you do the works, and then remortgage after you've finished - "normal" mortgage lenders don't want the risk of having to repossess while the property is a building site - or repossessing half a house...