Combining flats into one larger flat?

lmdp

Just curious if this is a thing - I own two flats in a 4 story house. The basement and ground. In the future, I have thought of combining the two floors to make one house - what would this be called and is it a simple thing to do?

gwynlas

If you have a seperate rather than communal  entrance it would be called a maisonette. You would need to remove a kitchen possibly using space to create utility room or extra bathroom and install an internal staircase or reconfigue existing stair to basement.

Any work would require freeholders permission and building control.

Whether it would be fnancially worthwhile would be a seperate issue dependent on local market. 

Some design magazines frequently feature homes where this change as been made

Mark_d

I assume these are leasehold properties.  If so, you would need to check the terms of the lease.   I suspect this type of significant alteration is prohibited...but by the nature of the development it might be possible to work with the freeholder to get the lease amended.

lmdp

I own the freehold. I think originally the 4 flats were 1 house. 

user1977

Any mortgages involved? You'd need to investigate whether planning permission is required.

lmdp

No morgages involved. I'll look into it

eddddy

• Some local councils (e.g. in parts of London) might be opposed to you amalgamating flats, and require you to get planning consent - because you'd be reducing the number of homes (by 1).

• If you find you don't need planning consent - maybe it's sensible to get a "Certificate of Lawfulness" from the council anyway. So when you sell, there will be no arguments about whether you should have got planning consent.

You mention 4 flats in the building. Are the other 2 leasehold?

If so, you need to check the leases of those other 2 flats, to make sure you are not breaching them in any way.

As examples,

• Will you be wanting to enclose any communal hallway or staircase into the newly formed flat?

• Will you need to breach any covenants in your leases or your neighbours leases to create the new flat?

silvercar

Also, the issue of the contribution to the block maintenance if the flats are reduced in number. Arguably less wear and tear from one occupying unit than two separate households, but you will own a higher percentage of the block. 

I’ve seen this in converted houses, where the basement and ground floor flats have become one and own the freehold and the garden. I suspect the owners are waiting to buy the upper floor and recreate a house.

lmdp

Thanks guys.

It is just a thought. 

In regards to the communal hallway, no I would not enclosing that, any new entrance would be from the garden.

I own the freehold of the entire building. Technically, if I made the bottom two flats into one, I would go from owning half (two flats out of 4) to a third, 1 flat our of four?

eddddy

lmdp said:

I own the freehold of the entire building. Technically, if I made the bottom two flats into one, I would go from owning half (two flats out of 4) to a third, 1 flat our of four 3?

I'm not sure what point you're making.

You would continue to own the freehold of the entire building.

Presumably you currently own 2 leasehold flats. So after amalgamating the 2 flats, I guess you would change the leases, so that you own 1 leasehold flat.

Are the other 2 flats (that you don't own) leasehold?

What do you see as the issue with that?


Are you worried about the other 2 leaseholders taking over the 'Right To Manage' and/or forcing you to sell the freehold by 'Collective Enfranchisement'.

Newbie_John

silvercar said:

Also, the issue of the contribution to the block maintenance if the flats are reduced in number. Arguably less wear and tear from one occupying unit than two separate households, but you will own a higher percentage of the block. 

I’ve seen this in converted houses, where the basement and ground floor flats have become one and own the freehold and the garden. I suspect the owners are waiting to buy the upper floor and recreate a house.

Or more wear and tear
Let's say both flats are rented out and (2 beds +kitchen + lounge) 2 people live upstairs and 2 downstairs. He merges flats, converts kitchen and lounge into 2 additional bedrooms and now we have 6 bedrooms = 6 people.