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Q. What are my responsibilities as an owner of a listed building and what happens if I wish to make alterations? A. As an owner of a listed building it is your responsibility to ensure that the property is repaired and maintained, which in some cases may require “listed building consent”. Should an owner of a…
Q. What’s the difference between a Homebuyers Report and a regular Valuation? A. The homebuyer report focuses on essentials: defects and problems which are urgent or significant and thus have an effect on the value of the property. The homebuyer report, unlike a building survey, provides not only a survey but also a valuation as…
Q. I’m convinced we have now hit the ‘bottom’ of the market and seriously want to buy my first home, however having registered with all the local estate agents it appears there’s hardly anything available to buy, why is this? A. Correct, buyers are out in droves looking for property right now, convinced as you…
Q. The service charges on our development have just been increased to what most of the owners believe an unreasonable level, what is the best way of challenging this – is there someone we can approach to discuss our concerns? A. Both landlords and leaseholders have a right to ask a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal whether…
Q. I have been told by my solicitor that the investment property that I am selling has an an absentee freeholder, what impact will this have on me selling? A. An absentee freeholder is a freeholder who is not carrying out their obligations under the terms of the lease. If you are a leaseholder…
Q. What effect will the Olympics coming to this area really have on our property, particularly with the down turn in the market we have experienced since the credit crunch? A. Historically, holding an Olympic games has generally been good for property in the host country. Take for example house prices in each of the…
Buy now . . . the time is right! This time last year the property market in Canary Wharf virtually ground to a halt over night. One minute there was speculation that we might be heading for a down turn in the market following the glorious days of 2007 when we all become rather complacent…
Q. I recently heard that ‘CORGI’ the gas safety recognition body has been replaced, if so what implications does this have on me as a landlord? A. Correct – the CORGI gas registration scheme in Great Britain and the Isle of Man ended on 31 March 2009. It is no longer recognised by law as the…
Q. The house I’m buying is on a private road and the local authority searches have raised the point of a possible ‘road adoption’ by the local authority, can you explain? A. Road adoption is a term used to describe the council taking ownership of a ‘private street’. A ‘private street’ is a road that…
Q. The property I’m buying has just been down valued by the surveyor, is there anything I can do? A. Unfortunately down valuations happen from time to time and are becoming increasingly frequent during these uncertain times. When you want to take out a mortgage on a property the lender will always send out a…
