Moving to a shared freehold / leasehold

third storey flat in a city;

a review of the building survey

 

Always have a building survey when you are buying or leasing a property

As building surveys we know how important it is to have a full structural survey of a property, whether it be residential or commercial and whether you are buying or leasing. It would indeed be folly to go ahead with such an important transaction without having a full and independent survey report carried out as if there prove to be problems with the property once you have completed upon the purchase then it could turn out to be a money pit.

Free phone 0800 298 5424

Buying a shared freehold / leasehold property in a large block of flats

 

Our clients had had an offer accepted on a flat in a large new purpose built block of flats in the heart of London . This purchase was on a leasehold / shared freehold basis, meaning that they owned the freehold of the flat itself but the whole block of flats were the responsibility of all the owner/occupiers within the flats, under the responsibility of a management committee.

This means that you are all responsible for any chimneys, roofs, windows etc and the cost will be shared amongst all the residents.

 

Sinking fund / planned maintenance schedule

A good management company will put in place a sinking fund and planned maintenance schedule.

This is where you pay an agreed sum into the sinking fund and the planned maintenance schedule will list all future maintenance coming up and the costs involved.

In the case of this block of flats we could see that the windows and doors would soon need redecoration.

We advised that they contacted their legal adviser who would be able to find out more information about the management company, the planned maintenance schedule and the sinking fund.

The flats had metal balconies and we could see that in the flat we were surveying the metal work was in need of redecoration, as the paint was flaking and bolts were rusting. Again, this will be a shared liability.

 

Condensation internally

We found the extract fans in the bathroom and kitchen to be too small to cope with the amount of moisture being produced. Readings were high on our moisture metre and we noticed mould in the bathroom.

A way of reducing condensation is to add large humidity controlled extract fans in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where the drying of clothes is carried out. This will disperse any moisture.

Taking surface temperature readings

Our survey conclusion of this flat

Overall we didn't find any major problems with the property, however we were concerned that the management property wasn't maintaining the external of the property properly due to the poor quality of the timber cladding panels, flaking paintwork, rusting screws, etc. The decoration was at such a stage that deterioration was starting to occur.

Our advice to the client was to get their legal to make enquiries about the management company and for the client to be 100% sure they were happy before proceeding to purchase their new home.

 

Surveying equipment is vital when carrying out a survey

As surveyors we always carry a range of surveying equipment to every survey, i.e.

1)  Moisture meters (mentioned above),

2)  Damp meters to find any rising or lateral / penetrating dampness

3)  Thermal imaging cameras to show any heat loss from the building

4)  Ladders, both for viewing things such as low level flat roofs and for viewing the loft space internally if there is no fixed loft ladder.

5)  Torch to view the loft space if there is no electric light.

Checking for dampness with a damp meter

The red areas show heat loss from the roof of a thatched property

 

Further information about buying a house and about having a building survey

We have produced a series of surveying articles over the years which we believe will be of interest to you. Please go to www.1stAssociated.co.uk

These include:

General articles regarding surveying, surveyors and valuations.

Articles specifically dealing with property problems, such as cracking, movement, dampness, etc.

If you are planning on extending or refurbishing a house then we have a series of articles just for you.

We have a whole section regarding commercial property, for both landlords and tenants; we even have a section relating to dilapidations.

If you are having a dispute; maybe relating to party walls or boundaries then we think you will find an article relating to this.

We have even reviewed many of the television property programmes.

Here is just a few of our many articles that we think will be of interest to you:

 

Why you have never seen a survey like ours

Do estate agents tell the truth?

Adding value to your property

My first lease, what should I do?

A Schedule of Condition, what should I expect?

We have also prepared a review of many of our surveys for you to look at, and we also recommend you look at our Media Section where you can look at / download examples for free of past surveys http://www.1stassociated.co.uk/media.asp

 

Need a survey, don't delay contact us today

You can get a free survey quote by going to our website www.1stAssociated.co.uk Free phone us on 0800 298 5424 to speak to one of our surveyors.

 

All rights reserved to 1stAssociated

 All rights to this article are reserved to www.1stAssociated.co.uk

 

building engineers

Home Buyers Reports Property Surveys - why we're the best. Engineers Reports
© Copyright 1stassociated.co.uk

1stassociated-logo-for-footer IVSA-badge IVSA-putting-client-first call-us-for-footer

We have thousands of free property articles to help you - or call us freephone on 0800 298 5424

We have been working in the property industry for many years and have been
providing free property articles for over ten years. All for free and to help you with buying your next property.

House and Home Surveys and Useful Information

All you need to know about Building Surveys

Building Control, what do they do?

Designers and Architects will they save me money or will they cost me money

Enviroment, Your Building and Garden Gnomes

Estate Agents help sell houses and work for the vendors

Have a Structural Survey to protect you against structural problems

Home improvements, builder problems and ideas for you on how to solve them

How a Surveyor values a property, Chartered Surveyors and Regulated Valuers

How Chartered Engineers and Building Engineers can help you

Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

NHBC National House Building Council

Structural Surveys and How We Can Help You

Traditional and Non-Traditional Houses and Mortgage Problems

Valuations and how much is the building worth?

Whats the difference between a Chartered Building Surveyor, Chartered Surveyor and an Independent Surveyor

Useful property problem articles by Chartered Surveyors explaining building issues to avoid

External - Helpful information on building problems on the outside of the property

Chimney issues and problems

Cracking and Movement Problems and Surveying Solutions

Flat Roof Problems, how we can solve them

Foundations and Structures and Settlement and Subsidence and Underpinning

Pitched Roofs Problems and Solutions

Roof Problems

Wall Problems

Windows and Doors and Fascias and Soffits and Wet Rot and Dry Rot and other problems

Internal - House problems we have investigated inside

All you ever need to know about floors

Asbestos in your home, what you need to know

Ceiling Cracks and Structural Problems

Condensation, Damp and Black Mould Problems

Cracking and Movement Problems and Surveying Solutions

Windows and Doors and Fascias and Soffits and Wet Rot and Dry Rot and other problems

Woodworm is it a problem or not? Is it active or not?

Services - Building help and advice on costly services

Drainage, what's underground can affect what's above ground

Heating; I just can't get my house warm enough or alternatively I just can't get my house cool enough

You can't mess around with the electric, you need an expert

 

Commercial Property Services

Building Terms Explained and Directories

Commercial Property Surveys

Commercial Structural Surveys

Leisure Facilites

Offices Large and Small

Shops and Retail

Warehouse and Industrial Buildings

Dilapidations Help and Advice What is a Dilapidations Notice?

A Beginner's Guide to Dilaps

Damp Mould and Condensation

Dampness Rising Damp Mould Black Mould Condensation

Dilapidations and Negotiations

Dilapidations Claim by a Landlord

Energy Saving what can I do?

Finance what is a Financial Adviser (We are not Financial Advisors)

Fire Risk and Help

Health and Safety Risks

Insurance how do I get the correct property insurance?

Landlords Surveying Advice

Property Investment how can I invest in property?

Property TV Reviews by an Independent Surveyor

Schedules of Condition Leasing a Commercial Property

Scotts Schedule and Section 18 Valuation

Tenants Surveying Advice

Weather how does weather affect my property?

Flooding

Rain

Snow and Ice

Strong Winds

Reviews from clients on Commercial Building Surveys

Churches and Charities, helpful reviews from our clients

Industrial Buildings and Warehouses and what our clients say about us

Offices Large and Small, reviews and feedback from our clients

Pubs, Restaurants, Hotels and other Leisure facilities we have surveyed over the years

Shops and Retail, helpful reviews from our clients

 

First Time Buyers

Buying a Leasehold or Shared Freehold Home

Buying and Selling Houses for the experienced house and home purchaser

First Time Buyers how do I go about buying my first house and home?

Improve your property knowledge with our presentations on house, homes and commercial property

Building Surveys

Building Surveying Useful Information

Dilapidations

Dilapidations Presentations in Detail

Final Year Building Surveying Exams for University Students or those that would like to know more

How old is your Building? Which era was it built in?

Party Walls

Surveyors and Design Tools

Disputes and Party Walls

Boundary Disputes

Building and Property Disputes

Party Wall Book Reviews

Party Walls Your Rights and Responsibilities

1stAssociated Surveyors Review for Structural Surveys and Building Surveys

Building Surveys, reviews and feedback from satisfied customers

Buy to let property clients, what they say about our structural surveys

Buying at auction, review of the survey

Buying bungalows and retirement properties and how our surveyors can help

Both at work / busy couples, how we can help and some 1stAssociated client reviews

Families with a young person flying the nest, reviews and feedback

First Time Buyers, what they say about us

Listed buildings, structural surveys

Older buildings, a review of buying an older house

Families with children looking for a new home, feedback and reviews

Buying a Non-Traditional Property

Residential Surveys

House and Home Surveys

Commercial Building Surveys

Commercial Surveys

1st Associated Surveyors Are Also Available in the Following Areas:

East Anglia and East

South and South East

West Country and South West

Midlands

North and North East

 

London

London Markets

London Parks

 

Wales

Areas of Britain

1stAssociated Independent Expert Property Surveyors

Specialists in Home Buyers Reports, Building Surveys and Structural Surveys and Schedules of Condition

All Surveyors are Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors qualified and RICS regulated

and are Members of the Independent Surveyors and Valuers Association

Putting the Client First

We do not accept service of documents by email or fax