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Buying a home and don't know how anything works

I bought this place last June.

Been renovating it. Cleaned yard and erected a nice yard fence with security number pad entry gate.

Freeholder has just sent me a 600 quid service charge bill and at the end of the email he says I have to send him the code for the yard..

Why the fuck I don’t know. Can he do this? Don’t know, how do I deal with it, ask a solicitor (ker-ching)

Fuck entitled freeholders everywhere fucking lizards

Beware of leasehold it’s nowt but fucking trouble
 
bellaozzydog said:
I bought this place last June.

Been renovating it. Cleaned yard and erected a nice yard fence with security number pad entry gate.

Freeholder has just sent me a 600 quid service charge bill and at the end of the email he says I have to send him the code for the yard..

Why the fuck I don’t know. Can he do this? Don’t know, how do I deal with it, ask a solicitor (ker-ching)

Fuck entitled freeholders everywhere fucking lizards

Beware of leasehold it’s nowt but fucking trouble
Click to expand...
Firstly, I'm not a lawyer.

Is the yard part of your demised property? If it is, then I suspect the same rules would apply as when he requires access to the flat. That is, he has to give reasonable notice that he requires access and you let him in at that time.

If it isn't part of your demised property but part of a communal area then I suspect he has a right to have the code. He's possibly also within his rights to tell you to remove anything that wasn't authorised in the communal space including the new fencing and entry gate.
 
Leafster said:
Firstly, I'm not a lawyer.

Is the yard part of your demised property? If it is, then I suspect the same rules would apply as when he requires access to the flat. That is, he has to give reasonable notice that he requires access and you let him in at that time.

If it isn't part of your demised property but part of a communal area then I suspect he has a right to have the code. He's possibly also within his rights to tell you to remove anything that wasn't authorised in the communal space including the new fencing and entry gate.
Click to expand...

i'm not a lawyer either, but

yes - if yard is communal with other flats, or if this fence / gate has been fixed to anything that's legally the freeholder's (e.g. outside walls) then you should probably have asked first before doing it. your lease ought to detail just who effectively owns (or has responsibility for) what.

in my case, for example, the front door is mine, but the door frame is technically the freeholder's. i did seek their approval before getting a mortice lock put on (just an exchange of e-mails and they said yes) - my next door / downstairs neighbours partially enclosed their front patio thing (i think it's a fairly temporary structure), which freeholder did squawk about but the argument blew over and it's still there.

if yard and access to it are exclusive to your flat, then maybe you're ok

in terms of giving them the code, dunno. leaseholders don't have to give the freeholder a key to their flat, this may be a grey area.

think i've mentioned them before, but may be worth a look before going to solicitors

Home - The Leasehold Advisory Service

Government funded, independent advice for residential leaseholders and park home residents
www.lease-advice.org www.lease-advice.org
 
bellaozzydog said:
I bought this place last June.

Been renovating it. Cleaned yard and erected a nice yard fence with security number pad entry gate.

Freeholder has just sent me a 600 quid service charge bill and at the end of the email he says I have to send him the code for the yard..

Why the fuck I don’t know. Can he do this? Don’t know, how do I deal with it, ask a solicitor (ker-ching)

Fuck entitled freeholders everywhere fucking lizards

Beware of leasehold it’s nowt but fucking trouble
Click to expand...
Does it include buildings insurance?
 
Leafster said:
Firstly, I'm not a lawyer.

Is the yard part of your demised property? If it is, then I suspect the same rules would apply as when he requires access to the flat. That is, he has to give reasonable notice that he requires access and you let him in at that time.

If it isn't part of your demised property but part of a communal area then I suspect he has a right to have the code. He's possibly also within his rights to tell you to remove anything that wasn't authorised in the communal space including the new fencing and entry gate.
Click to expand...

It’s all mine. No shared areas. Guys just a prick

I’ve got mates staying as they are sorting themselves out after being no blame kicked out of a flat in town. The freehold fuxker will no doubt threaten me for “subletting”
 
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5t3IIa whilst waiting for mortgage approval book a survey as you may find like I did it was a 4 week wait & there is no money paid till completed & by then you will know if you don’t already that mortgage is approved. No need to sort insurance yet.

I would wait till mortgage confirmed before instructing a solicitor as they want an up front fee to start on searches.

The sellers will remain anxious until the survey is done as based on that you might walk or lower your offer.

The average time from offer to completion is 3 months & as others have shared about estate agents & assume they are lying.
 
moonsi til said:
5t3IIa whilst waiting for mortgage approval book a survey as you may find like I did it was a 4 week wait & there is no money paid till completed & by then you will know if you don’t already that mortgage is approved. No need to sort insurance yet.

I would wait till mortgage confirmed before instructing a solicitor as they want an up front fee to start on searches.

The sellers will remain anxious until the survey is done as based on that you might walk or lower your offer.

The average time from offer to completion is 3 months & as others have shared about estate agents & assume they are lying.
Click to expand...
Thank you 👍🏼
 
bellaozzydog said:
I bought this place last June.

Been renovating it. Cleaned yard and erected a nice yard fence with security number pad entry gate.

Freeholder has just sent me a 600 quid service charge bill and at the end of the email he says I have to send him the code for the yard..

Why the fuck I don’t know. Can he do this? Don’t know, how do I deal with it, ask a solicitor (ker-ching)

Fuck entitled freeholders everywhere fucking lizards

Beware of leasehold it’s nowt but fucking trouble
Click to expand...
Leasehold Advisory Service can give free advice to leaseholders, I'd start with them in your shoes.

Home - The Leasehold Advisory Service

Government funded, independent advice for residential leaseholders and park home residents
www.lease-advice.org www.lease-advice.org
 
Boudicca said:
Does it include buildings insurance?
Click to expand...
Should do. Generally speaking, a freeholder would insure the building and a leaseholder needs contents insurance.

Check the situation re buildings insurance premiums though, it's fairly common for freeholders to go with expensive policies and they get a kick-back, sorry, commission, or something for it, which the freeholder/management company keeps.

Might be a good idea to ask them what quotes they received for what coverage and see if it's available cheaper anywhere else and ask them to go with different provider when it's up for renewal, providing it's like-for-like coverage.
 
bellaozzydog said:
It’s all mine. No shared areas. Guys just a prick

I’ve got mates staying as they are sorting themselves out after being no blame kicked out of a flat in town. The freehold fuxker will no doubt threaten me for “subletting”
Click to expand...
I thought your plan was to have lodgers or to let the property out while you work away?

Did you explain that to your solicitor/conveyancer? Didn't they flag up any problems relating to clauses in the lease about subletting?

ETA: What does your lease say, if anything, about subletting?

I know yours is an older property, but it's quite common for new build estate leases to require leaseholders to ask for and pay for permission to sublet. An older property like yours might say something like you need permission, which won't unreasonably be withheld.

I think it's probably becoming more commonplace for clauses to preclude short-term lets, like via AirBnB, as that can be a bit of a nightmare in terms of antisocial behaviour and/or neighbour nuisance, people coming and going.

Another thing to consider, in addition to whether your lease says you have to ask/pay for permission to let, is the situation with your mortgage provider. Some mortgage providers won't allow sublets. And another thing to consider is household insurance, you'd need to let them know you're subletting/have lodger(s)/tenant(s), otherwise your insurance might be void.
 
Last edited:
bellaozzydog said:
It’s all mine. No shared areas. Guys just a prick

I’ve got mates staying as they are sorting themselves out after being no blame kicked out of a flat in town. The freehold fuxker will no doubt threaten me for “subletting”
Click to expand...
Freeholder might need access for external inspections/works, which they retain legal liability for, so it's arguably reasonable for the freeholder to want/have a key to your yard in a way that asking for a key to your front/back door wouldn't be.

But it's arguable that such visits might be so infrequent as to make it moot and access can be arranged. But technically I think they can insist on being able to access the exterior of the building. But check with Leasehold Advisory Service, details of which also provided by Puddy_Tat

[Relevant anecdote/tangent: I went ballistic when my freeholder sent workmen up a ladder outside my bedroom window when I was naked in bed and was told they have every right to access the exterior of the building and aren't legally required to make an appointment for external works. I pointed out that I'm a single woman who lives in a second floor flat and therefore had a reasonable expectation of privacy, and I sleep naked and sometimes eg make a dash for the loo in the nude.

And then I went absofuckinglutely ballistic when, after having complained about previous twattery, a few months later I went into my sitting room in vest and pants to retrieve some clothes that had been drying on my radiator, only to hear two male voices shouting outside my window. They'd put scaffolding up, but luckily the guys were outside the first floor window at the time, not my second floor window.

Cunts.]
 
Time is coming to sell my house. The solicitor I used to buy the new one was a bit rubbish- actually the solicitor was pretty good but they farmed out most of the work to a trainee who was useless. (Taylor Rose) and only got involved when I complained.

So recent recommendations for a decent conveyancing solicitor please.
 
AnnO'Neemus said:
I thought your plan was to have lodgers or to let the property out while you work away?

Did you explain that to your solicitor/conveyancer? Didn't they flag up any problems relating to clauses in the lease about subletting?

ETA: What does your lease say, if anything, about subletting?

I know yours is an older property, but it's quite common for new build estate leases to require leaseholders to ask for and pay for permission to sublet. An older property like yours might say something like you need permission, which won't unreasonably be withheld.

I think it's probably becoming more commonplace for clauses to preclude short-term lets, like via AirBnB, as that can be a bit of a nightmare in terms of antisocial behaviour and/or neighbour nuisance, people coming and going.

Another thing to consider, in addition to whether your lease says you have to ask/pay for permission to let, is the situation with your mortgage provider. Some mortgage providers won't allow sublets. And another thing to consider is household insurance, you'd need to let them know you're subletting/have lodger(s)/tenant(s), otherwise your insurance might be void.
Click to expand...

yes, that.

it's not common, but not unknown, for flats to come with leases about sub-letting (i've seen it on a couple of places i've idly looked at, and they do seem to come cheaper, and you don't end up with the sort of BTL flat where neither the landlord or tenant gives a shit about anything much*) - fairly sure it's not an issue where i am, since i rented the place (from a buy to let merchant) first then bought it from him.

if it's not a clause in the lease, then there's sod all they can do about it. if it is, you may be in bother.

lease may be different in respect of renting the whole place out to 'tenant/s', having 'lodger/s' (where you live there as well and just rent out a spare room or whatever) and having guest/s staying with you.

may be more awkward to prove current people are guests if they don't have an address somewhere else (i did go through a phase of having a part time lodger here a few years back - the council tax people said he didn't count as a second person 'resident' here if we could prove he still had his car registered at his home (parents') address, or was registered with GP there, or something like that (I can't remember what I supplied them with in the end but it worked)

* - not saying that all BTL landlords / tenants don't give a shit, but a lot don't, and it tends to become a spiral...
 
steveseagull said:
Anyone any idea what sort of age this house style is?

View attachment 307626
Click to expand...

possibly 20's to 30's

if it's London, and you want to give the road name, I do have some old A-Z (or equivalents) and may be able to say 'it wasn't there in the X year' one (assuming it's the sort of road that was only built when the houses were - if it's on a main road and replaced something older, may be difficult)

public domain OS maps for London are only really there for late 1890s and post-1945, so probably won't help much.
 
Oh FFS.

So I got an email to say they, the lender, haven't done the home buyers survey as they needed the EWS1. That was last Friday. I got it off the vendor and sent it the same day.

On Monday , they said they'd refund my house buyer's money as the surveyor couldn't carry it out. I phoned them said I'd already sent the cert. They would get back to me.

Today they've replied saying they need a letter, headed paper, from the company who did the EWS1 cert, stating their area of business and qualifications.

This info is on the cert. The company, a local one is listed on company house.

So who's supposed to do this. Me, just contact a company I've had no dealings with and say, yeah that EWS1 check you did in 2020, can I have a letter?

Doesn't the lender's surveyor chase this shit up?

I've forwarded to my solicitor as well as fuck knows who's supposed to do what regarding this stuff.

The cert is absolutely fine AFAIK, A1, no issues with cladding etc.
 
xenon said:
Oh FFS.

So I got an email to say they, the lender, haven't done the home buyers survey as they needed the EWS1. That was last Friday. I got it off the vendor and sent it the same day.

On Monday , they said they'd refund my house buyer's money as the surveyor couldn't carry it out. I phoned them said I'd already sent the cert. They would get back to me.

Today they've replied saying they need a letter, headed paper, from the company who did the EWS1 cert, stating their area of business and qualifications.

This info is on the cert. The company, a local one is listed on company house.

So who's supposed to do this. Me, just contact a company I've had no dealings with and say, yeah that EWS1 check you did in 2020, can I have a letter?

Doesn't the lender's surveyor chase this shit up?

I've forwarded to my solicitor as well as fuck knows who's supposed to do what regarding this stuff.

The cert is absolutely fine AFAIK, A1, no issues with cladding etc.
Click to expand...
Maybe freeholder or management company will give you a copy
 
I've emailed the company that did the certification and quoted what the lender are asking for. Asking them if they can provide the letter. No reply from solicitor yet, which TBH wasn't expecting. I just don't want this stuff hanging on for another week without knowing what I'm spposed to do
 
5t3IIa said:
I had a query from HSBC via the mortgage broker asking to explain the ‘huge variance’ in my wages from 2017 to 2021… that would be going from a London job to a civil service job in the provinces, mate 👑
Click to expand...

Yeah it does seem, they ask for xyz when you apply. Then a few weeks later, oh yeah, we need this as well... Oh and this. But not like that, this instead.
 
xenon said:
Yeah it does seem, they ask for xyz when you apply. Then a few weeks later, oh yeah, we need this as well... Oh and this. But not like that, this instead.
Click to expand...
Oh fuck no. It’s hard enough as it is. I was dreading being asked for 2017 payslips 😦
 
Well, I now "own a home and still don't know how anything works."

Mostly just happy and relieved to be in my own place and enjoying it every day.

But today I unplugged a phone charger to find that the plug looked like something had exploded there. I mean it's cracked and sort of blackened. Fairly sure it wasn't like that before.

There's also another plug in the spare room which I've stopped using because it makes crackling noises. I suppose I need an electrician to come and check all the electrics but not sure I can do that before I leave for the next few months. A dodgy plug isn't going to blow the place up as long as it isn't used, is it?
 
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