UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi

I urgently need some advice. I am a joint freeholder, together with 2 other freeholders,  in a detached property.  I rent out the top flat, and now wish to renovate and then sell the flat.

My question is am I able to put in dormer windows ( subject of course to all the correct planning permissions et ) or do the other freeholders jointly own the flat together with me? Would I need to purchase the roof from them?[/color]

In the past we have all jointly paid for roof repairs and we all get along very well with a good deal of trust.

I have a limited budget and if I have to purchase the roof from them, I do not think I will be able to renovate.  If I am able to renovate, then both freeholders will benefit because the price of the property will increase.

Of course I need to do things properly. Please advise! Many thanks in advance.

Quote from: VETRONE on March 02, 2015, 07:56:48 AMIn the past we have all jointly paid for roof repairs and we all get along very well with a good deal of trust.

This is the key, right?

Asking strangers on a forum as to what you can and cannot do is already, in a way, betraying the trusting relationship that you have with your peers. You, ideally, need to be discussing your plans with them... if there's tacit agreement anyway, then you probably have very little to worry about, but it does need confirming in my opinion... but if there's disagreement, then you would be, at best, unwise to try and assert your right to do what you want to do over their objections.

As you wish to sell, then you may not be overly concerned about destroying the relationship that has been built-up... but that doesn't sound very nice, does it?

Have you opened up the discussion? It can certainly be couched in a way that makes it sound appealing (overall price increase) but you'd need to balance that out against the undoubted disruption.

Thanks for your input - much appreciated. I will of course open up discussions with the other freeholder but wanted to gather as much information as possible prior.  Kind regards

It is a good question. One which must have been met before.

Speak to a conveyancing solicitor to get a factual answer before speaking to others, as you need to be 100% sure of your facts.

The roof is no different to the walls and windows etc, so there must be a clause in your agreement.