Is a flat in a 4 storey building considered a high rise?

BortSimpson

I'm in the process of remortgaging a Help To Buy leasehold flat.

We've got a decent mortgage offer from our mortgage advisor and we decided to save time to go with the solicitor firm recommended by our mortgage advisor. Fee was around £800.

However, when we sent specific details of our flat to our recommended solicitor firm, they reject us for being a "High rise" Property. Our flat is in the middle of an only 4 storeys high building and under 11m in height. I've not read a single source where we even come close to being a high rise property.

We were given another solicitor firm that our advisor recommended as the next best option, but this one is charging a fee in the £1k range for a "High rise supplement" Plus VAT. A fee that we would ideally like to avoid. This is on top of the solicitor's fee and other associated fees.

What are my best options at this point?

poseidon1

BortSimpson said:

I'm in the process of remortgaging a Help To Buy leasehold flat.

We've got a decent mortgage offer from our mortgage advisor and we decided to save time to go with the solicitor firm recommended by our mortgage advisor. Fee was around £800.

However, when we sent specific details of our flat to our recommended solicitor firm, they reject us for being a "High rise" Property. Our flat is in the middle of an only 4 storeys high building and under 11m in height. I've not read a single source where we even come close to being a high rise property.

We were given another solicitor firm that our advisor recommended as the next best option, but this one is charging a fee in the £1k range for a "High rise supplement" Plus VAT. A fee that we would ideally like to avoid. This is on top of the solicitor's fee and other associated fees.

What are my best options at this point?

Government defines high-rise as 7 storey, or at least 18m - see below

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-high-rise-residential-building#:~:text=Print this page-,Buildings in this register,2 residential units

If the building you are interested in is not on the government high rise, high risk register ( see below), I struggle to see the basis for the solicitor's concerns.  You should check for yourself, just in case it is listed on the high risk register - 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-high-rise-residential-building#:~:text=Print this page-,Buildings in this register,2 residential units

ACG

I do not do many high rises, but I think most lenders have requirements if you go above 4 floors (such as lifts). 

I think you should generally be fine with lenders, but just double check beforehand or speak to a broker. 

BortSimpson

poseidon1 said:

BortSimpson said:

I'm in the process of remortgaging a Help To Buy leasehold flat.

We've got a decent mortgage offer from our mortgage advisor and we decided to save time to go with the solicitor firm recommended by our mortgage advisor. Fee was around £800.

However, when we sent specific details of our flat to our recommended solicitor firm, they reject us for being a "High rise" Property. Our flat is in the middle of an only 4 storeys high building and under 11m in height. I've not read a single source where we even come close to being a high rise property.

We were given another solicitor firm that our advisor recommended as the next best option, but this one is charging a fee in the £1k range for a "High rise supplement" Plus VAT. A fee that we would ideally like to avoid. This is on top of the solicitor's fee and other associated fees.

What are my best options at this point?

Government defines high-rise as 7 storey, or at least 18m - see below

https:// www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-high-rise-residential-building#:~:text=Print%20this%20page-,Buildings%20in%20this%20register,2%20residential%20units

If the building you are interested in is not on the government high rise, high risk register ( see below), I struggle to see the basis for the solicitor's concerns.  You should check for yourself, just in case it is listed on the high risk register - 

https:// www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-high-rise-residential-building#:~:text=Print%20this%20page-,Buildings%20in%20this%20register,2%20residential%20units

Oh wow, didn't know that there was website for this. But yeah, no high rises on our postcode.

BortSimpson

ACG said:

I do not do many high rises, but I think most lenders have requirements if you go above 4 floors (such as lifts). 

I think you should generally be fine with lenders, but just double check beforehand or speak to a broker. 

Ours is exactly 4 floors. I've got an advisor and a mortgage offer. It's the solicitor firms recommended by the advisor that back out when they are informed about the height. Except this new one which is charging £1k for a high rise settlement.

We don't want to pay a fee for something we don't think we meet the criteria for. That's the conundrum we're in at the moment.

ACG

BortSimpson said:

ACG said:

I do not do many high rises, but I think most lenders have requirements if you go above 4 floors (such as lifts). 

I think you should generally be fine with lenders, but just double check beforehand or speak to a broker. 

Ours is exactly 4 floors. I've got an advisor and a mortgage offer. It's the solicitor firms recommended by the advisor that back out when they are informed about the height. Except this new one which is charging £1k for a high rise settlement.

We don't want to pay a fee for something we don't think we meet the criteria for. That's the conundrum we're in at the moment.

Ah, I have come across this before.

Try a few different firms. It can vary from firm to firm. I have seen prices from £200-2,000 quotes and where the term high rise kicks in. Its not really what you/the broker/lender class as high rise, I think it is down to their insurance from what I have been told. 

Make some calls to other firms or ask the broker if they have any other firms they use. I have been caught out by this with one of the conveyancers we use. We switched to the other conveyancer and I think they charged £170 (+VAT) for "high rise" in a 4 story block. 

BortSimpson

ACG said:

BortSimpson said:

ACG said:

I do not do many high rises, but I think most lenders have requirements if you go above 4 floors (such as lifts). 

I think you should generally be fine with lenders, but just double check beforehand or speak to a broker. 

Ours is exactly 4 floors. I've got an advisor and a mortgage offer. It's the solicitor firms recommended by the advisor that back out when they are informed about the height. Except this new one which is charging £1k for a high rise settlement.

We don't want to pay a fee for something we don't think we meet the criteria for. That's the conundrum we're in at the moment.

Ah, I have come across this before.

Try a few different firms. It can vary from firm to firm. I have seen prices from £200-2,000 quotes and where the term high rise kicks in. Its not really what you/the broker/lender class as high rise, I think it is down to their insurance from what I have been told. 

Make some calls to other firms or ask the broker if they have any other firms they use. I have been caught out by this with one of the conveyancers we use. We switched to the other conveyancer and I think they charged £170 (+VAT) for "high rise" in a 4 story block. 

Thank you for this reply. Great advice.