Roof replacement cost for block of flats if they blocking survey

2childmum2

My parents are hoping to buy a flat but haven't exchanged yet. They have this week been told by the solicitor that the landlords are looking to replace the roof and there will be a 'substantial' cost. Looking at the planning application it is going to cost up to £45000 per flat, which they don't have. They have been trying to move to this area for about 5 years, but either can't sell their flat, or if they find a buyer they can't find a flat to buy. They are elderly with mobility issues so suitable flats are hard to come by.
The planning allocation went in in August, but they have only been told about the roof now, and had to go searching for a possible cost. To say they are upset is an understatement. I'm just pleased they have found out now, and not after they exchanged.

eddddy

2childmum2 said:

My parents are hoping to buy a flat but haven't exchanged yet. They have this week been told by the solicitor that the landlords are looking to replace the roof and there will be a 'substantial' cost. Looking at the planning application it is going to cost up to £45000 per flat, which they don't have. They have been trying to move to this area for about 5 years, but either can't sell their flat, or if they find a buyer they can't find a flat to buy. They are elderly with mobility issues so suitable flats are hard to come by.
The planning allocation went in in August, but they have only been told about the roof now, and had to go searching for a possible cost. To say they are upset is an understatement. I'm just pleased they have found out now, and not after they exchanged.

Is "planning allocation" a typo? Do you mean "planning application"? If so, what is the "planning application" for?

Is the freeholder a council?


If a "planning application" was submitted, that suggests changes (or improvements) are being planned - not just maintenance, repairs or replacement.

The vast majority of "private sector" leases wouldn't allow freeholders to force leaseholders to pay for changes/improvements - only for maintenance, repairs or replacement.


But leases from council freeholders often do allow the freeholder to charge leaseholders for improvements.

So perhaps you need to be extra cautious when buying a flat with a council freeholder - as there are a few horror stories about huge service charge bills. I suspect that's one reason that flats with council freeholders are often relatively cheap.

But if the freeholder is a council, their plans for a building would be well documented - probably years in advance. So there should be much more info, much sooner, than with most other freeholders.

2childmum2

This is a private landlord.  The roofs of 5 blocks all need replacing as apparently they are leaking- at the moment they are covered with copper sheeting, but they want to change it to tile, and also replace the wooden (I think) soffits, guttering etc with UPVC, which is why they have put in a planning application (sorry for the typo).  Other blocks in the area are tiled.  Last year they put in a planning application to cover the roofs with felt but that was rejected because it didn't fit in with the character of the area so now they need to replace them. Apparently the underlying roof structure is sound

Jonboy_1984

Has there been any sort of sinking fund built up for this, that may offset the total bill?

F37A

2childmum2 said:

My parents are hoping to buy a flat but haven't exchanged yet. They have this week been told by the solicitor that the landlords are looking to replace the roof and there will be a 'substantial' cost. Looking at the planning application it is going to cost up to £45000 per flat, which they don't have. They have been trying to move to this area for about 5 years, but either can't sell their flat, or if they find a buyer they can't find a flat to buy. They are elderly with mobility issues so suitable flats are hard to come by.
The planning allocation went in in August, but they have only been told about the roof now, and had to go searching for a possible cost. To say they are upset is an understatement. I'm just pleased they have found out now, and not after they exchanged.

thanks for this. Yeah i heard someone say 45k per flat and that sounds terrible. But equally could be 40k for the whole development. I have a week to exchange and we are no closer to the value. But can't gamble on this stuff.

F37A

2childmum2 said:

This is a private landlord.  The roofs of 5 blocks all need replacing as apparently they are leaking- at the moment they are covered with copper sheeting, but they want to change it to tile, and also replace the wooden (I think) soffits, guttering etc with UPVC, which is why they have put in a planning application (sorry for the typo).  Other blocks in the area are tiled.  Last year they put in a planning application to cover the roofs with felt but that was rejected because it didn't fit in with the character of the area so now they need to replace them. Apparently the underlying roof structure is sound

Thanks - may i ask how many flats in the development. Mine is just the two blocks. We are frantically trying to find a solution. Have no idea how much the cost will be. 

F37A

Jonboy_1984 said:

Has there been any sort of sinking fund built up for this, that may offset the total bill?

On my one there is and this is the one thing that is making this purchase one to think about. Best case the roof will cost 40k and then sinking fund covers it.

2childmum2

There is no sinking fund. There are 5 blocks with 9 flats in each block. We only have some idea of cost because we found the planning application ourselves

eddddy

2childmum2 said:

There is no sinking fund. There are 5 blocks with 9 flats in each block. We only have some idea of cost because we found the planning application ourselves

So the cost is £2m for the 5 blocks - or £400k per block. How did you get those costs from the planning application?

user1977

eddddy said:

2childmum2 said:

There is no sinking fund. There are 5 blocks with 9 flats in each block. We only have some idea of cost because we found the planning application ourselves

So the cost is £2m for the 5 blocks - or £400k per block. How did you get those costs from the planning application?

Think planning fees are based on the estimated value of the development, so it's presumably declared in there?