lease plan

Joar

hello

i'm buying a flat that has been renovated and converted from 1 bedroom flat to 2 bedroom flat.
however in the lease plan is showing just one bedroom flat.
Is this a problem ?
which papers shall i receive from sellers solicitor to proof this structure change is legal?
thanks

loubel

You need to check what the lease says about alterations or changing layout. It might be that consent from the freeholder was needed - certainly I would expect this if the structural walls were involved in the conversion. If all they've done is pop up a stud wall then perhaps not. Your solicitor will investigate this for you. Have you told them that the flat layout doesn't match the lease?

Jonboy_1984

Building control records would show if the work was completed to legal standards (but isn't necessarily required if the work was not structural). 


It may also be subject to freeholder approval if there are relevant covenants in the lease (which is a contract). 

Has the lease been extended at all? If it has try and find out if the work was done before or after the extension as this can have a bearing on the legal position. 

It is quite common to deal with missing freeholder consents or building control via an indemnity policy, so make sure any enquires with the freeholder are only handled by the solicitors (they shouldnt respond to anyone but the seller and their representatives) as notifying them invalidates any indemnity policy. 

propertyrental

Jonboy_1984 said:

....

It is quite common to deal with missing freeholder consents or building control via an indemnity policy, so make sure any enquires with the freeholder are only handled by the solicitors (they shouldnt respond to anyone but the seller and their representatives) as notifying them the freeholder or the council invalidates any indemnity policy. 

Just to clarify