In Q & A we take a look at some of the questions mortgage advisors answer on a regular basis.
Question; I have been told it’s difficult to arrange a mortgage on a freehold flat, why is this?
In a freehold you are responsible for the maintenance and insurance of the building and own the land on which it is built, which in the case of a normal house is a good thing.
However in the case of a flat this means that there is no clear definition around who is responsible for which parts of the building. Your roof is your neighbour’s floor and your floor is someone else’s roof.
Imagine then that your upstairs neighbour leaves his bath running and your roof collapses, whose responsibility is this now? If your neighbour has no insurance then it could get pretty messy and that’s why as a mortgage lender it’s a bit of a no go area.
This problem can also occur with what’s known as a flying freehold, this is a maisonette or house where some of the property extends over or under another property on a freehold tenure.
If you are in need of a mortgage on such a property they may be steps you can take to go about getting one so call 0845 4594490 to speak to a mortgage advisor for specific advice on the area.
Tags: Flying freehold, Freehold Flat, Freehold Tenure, Mortgage Advice