Author: admin
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5 Expensive Defects to Look For
When you view a property what are you looking for? The state of the décor shouldn’t concern you too much as even if it is well decorated you will probably change it within the first couple of years. What you should be looking for are serious or expensive defects that could cost thousands of pounds…
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15 Potentially Serious Defects
Flat Roofs If the property has been extended it may well have a flat roof. The lifespan of a flat roof covering is much shorter than that of tiles or slates. You can often get a good view of the flat roof from the first floor windows. If it looks bare or is bulging up…
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5 Most Common Post Survey Reports
Surveyors are often criticised for passing the buck and recommending further reports by one white van man or another. There are often good reasons for this; surveyors cannot be experts in all aspects of a building and in many cases specialist equipment is required to test the services. They are also fearful of being sued…
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Choosing a Surveyor
If you decide to go for something more detailed than a mortgage valuation (and we recommend that you do) you will have two choices. You can pay the lender the additional fee to upgrade to the more expensive report or just pay for the valuation and go directly to a local firm of Chartered Surveyors,…
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What Type of Survey Should I Have?
When buying a property you will need to decide which type of survey you will have done. If you intend to take out a mortgage the lender will insist on carrying out a mortgage valuation. Although your lender will pass on the cost of the valuation to you it is primarily for their benefit. It…
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What is ground rent?
If you own a long lease on a property in England and Wales you will normally have to pay rent to the freeholder or landlord of the property; this is known as Ground Rent. The lease will normally specify how much rent you have to pay and when it has to be paid. Generally the rent will…
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What is the difference between leasehold and Freehold?
When we talk about “owning” property in England and Wales we have to consider the two main types of interest in land that exist, which are freehold and leasehold. The freehold interest in land (sometimes referred to in legal terms as The Fee Simple Absolute in Possession) is the most complete interest that can be…
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Collective Enfranchisement – Getting Started
It is becoming quite common for the leaseholders of blocks of flats to try to acquire the freehold interest in the building and in this article I will try to explain the basis of the legislation and the procedures that you need to follow to get started. The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 gives the lessees…
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Extending Your Lease – The Process
The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 gives leaseholders the right to extend their leases. Under the Act, flat owners can require their freeholder to grant them a new lease with an additional term of 90 years at a peppercorn ground rent. If you have owned your property for two or more years,…
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How Much Will It Cost To Extend My Lease?
This is usually one of the first questions that I’m asked when I receive an enquiry about lease extensions. I can understand that a lessee would want to know this when considering a lease extension but it’s not an easy question to answer over the telephone or even in an article such as this. I will…