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Martin Lewis Blog: 'House offer accepted, now they want £20,000 more! What should I do?'
A passer-by stopped Martin in the street recently to ask his opinion on her house buying dilemma. You can check out his view in a video he posted: Martin Lewis: 'House offer accepted, now they want £20,000 more! What should I do?' What would you do? Stand your ground? Walk away? Pay the extra? Negotiate? Tell us your…
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New to the House Buying, Selling & Renting board? Start here
✅ This board is for... * Questions about buying or selling a home * Questions about renting a home * Questions about being a landlord 🚫 This board is not for.. * Debating the state of the economy * Debating house prices in general * Political debates Note: In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place…
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Tenancies in Eng/Wales: Guides for landlords and tenants
post 1 This thread is intended to provide information to both landlords and tenants relating to Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales. Updated April 2020 to include the Coronavirus Act 2020 and July 2020 to include the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020. Topics covered: Post 2: Repairing…
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Buying Tenanted House at Auction - Little info on Tenants
Hi, I already am a landlord with one property and have a long term good tenant, I'm considering buying another house at auction. I have seen small house in West Midlands Area for GBP 50K guide price (more than half the market value of other properties on the road). its very cheap. It has a sitting tenant on Assured short…
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Buying a flat as a FTB - didn't know it only had electric underfloor heating
Hi everyone, I'm a FTB a bit stuck with whether to follow through with the flat that I am purchasing or to walk away. Still living with parents so there is no rush to move out, - could have work done before I were to move in if needed (although ideally would love to be living in it of course). Just had the survey done…
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Buying New Home Whilst Selling Shared Ownership
Hi, I would appreciate anyone's help. My situation: I live in a shared ownership property, 51% owned with no mortgage. I have an inheritance and, with a smallish mortgage, can afford to buy a freehold property that I like that is now on the market. The estate agent told me to ask the housing association if this was…
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Service Charge when buying a leasehold property
I have bought a leasehold property. The previous owners had paid the service charge up until 1st October 2025. The service charge period was 1st April 2025 until 30th March 2026, to be paid biannually. I moved around 25th September 2025. Who is responsible for the service charge from 1st October until 30th March 2026?
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I have inherited a leasehold flat. Transferring land registry myself.
My father passed away 2 years ago and his wife (my stepmother) died in October. The flat remains in both of their names. I am the sole beneficiary & executor, and I have probate. Held as joint tenants. I have asked a solicitor and they want nearly £1000 to transfer the property into my name as I intend to keep the property…
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Shared ownership owner - can I buy a 2nd ‘open market’ property?
Currently own a shared ownership property. I would like to move, and found a great home that needs asap completion. Will not be able to sell the SO property before completion. Is there anything legally or otherwise, that is tangible and not just hearsay, that is preventing me from purchasing a second home? I am aware of…
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Assured shorthold tennancy coming to an end
Hi, My Assured Shorthold Tennancy is coming to an end on 4th Feb 2026. My landlord has written to me to ask whether i would like to renew the tennancy for a further 6 month term or whether i intend to vacate the property in expiry. ..Though can't i just ask to have it transition to a rolling month by month tennancy?
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Can I reclaim the second home SDLT surcharge?
Hi all, Here's my scenario (including some rounded numbers, in case that's helpful) 1. I own my own home (house A) with no mortgage. Value £600k 2. I'm considering buying a second home (house B ), at auction. Estimated value: £600k 3. If I win the auction, I'll be liable for £20k of 'normal' SDLT plus £30k of additional…
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Anti-money laundering system
We are currently trying to buy a house despite the fact out solicitor uses the Infotrack eCos system which requires an app on a smartphone. My first comment is use a different solicitor because the Infotrack eCos is so badly designed, buggy and unreliable. It also discriminates against elderly and less techno aware and…
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Not informed buyer needed a mortgage - confused
Going back and forth on this one, please help me sort my head out! My brother and I have a house and land for sale. We own the house, the land is owned by us and other family members. We had interest in the house and land from a cash buyer whose cash would not come through until January 2026. They were offering £620k for…
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New build with 'major defect' - next steps?
Please can someone advise me if the steps to take. Background: Insurers of the structural warranty have just confirmed that they want to do more investigations to confirm the extent of ‘major defect’ They’re talking about then doing a plan for repairs after these investigations. . I’ve done some googling and see that major…
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Everyone is selling up their flats should i?
Hi there i live in a big apartment complex with around 8 blocks of apartments. i checked with neighbours, the land registry and estate agents and the only block everyone is selling their apartments are in my block. Some are also selling for less than they origionally paid for? If you were in my position would you sell your…
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Shared Ownership and Land Registry Title
I am selling my shared ownership flat, it's proving to be a nightmarish project with delays and incomprehension with solicitors from both sides, even if it is a chain free transaction. Conveyancers from buyer's side are now saying that the land registry title doesn't show I had staircased from 35% to 50% (I did this at the…
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What to do with windfall - negative equity, needs lease extension, jointly owned with ex
Hi all, I jointly own a flat with my ex. It's leasehold with only 64 years left on the lease. When we split up, we were in negative equity and couldn't afford to extend the lease or sell, so I've continued living here and paying the mortgage myself, while she rents elsewhere. Money has been tight for both of us - she's on…
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Buyers surveyor undervalued our house
Hello all,After being on the market for one year and three months, we finally accepted an offer on our house. The asking price was £280,000 and the offer was £270,000 as we know the exterior render requires some attention. We agreed to settle on £273,000 and a sale memorandum was sent to the solicitors. the buyer arranged…
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Trying to sell a retirement flat.
I have been attempting to sell a retirement flat that belonged to my Mother before she died. I am having the most awful time trying to get a buyer for it. In fact, it's a minor miracle when we actually get a viewing for the flat. The block in which the flat is based has had a fairly bad reputation for a while. It had a…
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Purchaser wants Deed of Variation to Lease due to ground rent
We are in the process of selling a flat and our purchaser has requested a Deed of Variation to the lease since the current ground rent is above the threshold that would make the lease subject to the landlords power to terminate the lease for arrears of rent. Apparently this is sometimes an issue for mortgage providers but…
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House valuation is less than needed to pay fees, no savings. What do I do?
Me and my ex are needing to sell the house due to the separation. To cover the fees of selling the house would need to sell for 10k more than it has been valued. The house is a new build, only been here for 1.5 years. The developer is still building for another 2/3 years. Obviously, you buy new builds at a premium, and…
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Renting – Early Termination – Joint Tenants
Quick question...(private rental via agency)What happens
if half way through a tenancy the relationship between two joint tenants breaks
down, and one person wants to stay in the property but wants the person who’s
left to still foot half the bill. What happens if the rent goes unpaid – or only
half paid?
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Transfer of equity - can't figure out the legal/accountancy services we need
Hi all, I'm currently a guarantor and pay 50% of the mortgage on the property my partner and I live in. We have a joint buyer, sole proprietor mortgage. For various reasons we now want to do a transfer of equity and make us equal owners. The mortgage company are fine with it as I'm already fully on the mortgage. They just…
