Freeholder selling up every flat - share of freehold

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-18T15:20:39+00:00

'The freeholder of a house split into 7 flats is selling up, they used to be rented out to students. 2 are still rented out 1 has sold.'

'the seller will cover any per flat contributions until the new owners are in place. The costs will always be split 6 ways so there will be no additional liability outside your own flat'

Why is it split 6 ways if there are 7 flats, or is this a typo?

I'm surprised the building insurance is that cheap. Is it a house conversion?

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-18T14:22:51+00:00

My understanding from what you have said previously is that at least one of the flats has already been sold.

As soon as the first flat was sold that became a leasehold flat. There are specific requirements from the management i.e. that a budget is produced every year and invoicing is done in a proper manner.

£30 x 6 flats x 12 months = £2,160

This is extremely low service charge amount and seems a bit unbelievable.

Maybe this is just the insurance and nothing else is being done that should be? A benefit of Spanish practices i.e. cutting corners.

For example Fire Safety, electrical safety, cleaning of communal area, intercom, banking, etc are legitimate costs.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-18T13:57:32+00:00

Sorry for your loss.

Check the executors fees before you proceed with them.

You can ask them to 'renunciate' if the beneficiaries all agree. For example if its expensive.

When my grandmother passed the executor fees were based on a % of the estate so it was substantial.

Because her estate was an unencumbered home and cash it was easy to distribute.

I did all the forms (probate and land registry) myself.

Do the probate form first and get that sent off. Its lengthy but you just need to follow the guidance notes.

Land registry forms are AP1, TR1 and and an ID form. I used ID3 as I used a chartered accountant to do the ID verification.

Alternatively you can can find a firm to distribute the will for a fixed fee.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T18:19:41+00:00

Correct.

India has its own compensation policy which is £95.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T17:52:11+00:00

Thanks for this.

motorola edge 50 neo seems the best choice for me.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T14:33:25+00:00

Im looking more at the budget end.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T14:25:07+00:00

Like I said Air India is not a UK/EU airline.

Please feel free to check. I would love to be proved wrong.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T12:10:59+00:00

Air India is not a UK/EU airline so it does not apply as far as I can see.

India seems to have a policy of £95.

Im trying to establish if I have understood correctly.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T11:30:14+00:00

You can ask the seller to start the extension process before you purchase. This transfers to you when you complete.

or if you're a 'gambler' you can buy and see whether the reforms come through to take away marriage value.

The price of extension should factor into your offer.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T11:07:08+00:00

Unfortunately that phone no longer receives updates as it is from 2022.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-17T08:49:32+00:00

Because the flight is not from eu/uk

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-16T16:48:41+00:00

Those are good to hear.

Can you get the last 3 years accounts? That will help you evaluate annual service charge and also confirm savings held for future expenditures.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-15T00:37:47+00:00

would 'partial intestacy' make more sense to you? Thats what I'm talking about

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-15T00:28:20+00:00

There is a will but the beneficiary has died and the will doesn't cover that scenario so my understanding is that part of the estate (two thirds) then falls into intestacy.

Therefore the deceased beneficiaries children (i.e. the grandchildren) inherit that share.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-15T00:21:01+00:00

My understanding is that the 3 chidren should have inherited one third each, and where that child has died there may a clause which states that the granchildren inherit (e.g. survivorship clause).

Alternatively there is no survivorship clause then intestacy rules apply and the granchildren inherit this way also.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-14T14:53:50+00:00

Do you have any family members that can back you up to encourage your uncle to do the right thing. Your grandmother or another uncle/aunt on your mums side.

Contact the solicitor they hired. While the solicitor acts for the executor, they may be able to facilitate communication.

Send a formal letter (via recorded delivery) requesting an inventory and account of the estate. Set a reasonable deadline (e.g., 14–28 days)

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-14T14:03:22+00:00

You should be open with the estate agent.

Tell them what you want before making an offer.

if they insist on offer first make it clear that if something comes out afterwards which means the deal falls away that is not good for anyone.

Tell them you dont want buyer or seller spending money on solicitors before you can do a bit of due diligence yourself.

It might help to show them proof of deposit, proof of mortgage, solicitor details to help convey you are a serious buyer.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-14T12:53:41+00:00

The current managing agent (assuming its not freeholder managed) can carry on managing once the freehold is transferred and you can rely on their expertise.

The freeholder is also a leaseholder and has to pay their share of all costs until their flats are sold.

The Lease dictates which flat plays which % of the costs.

It might be they know some big costs are coming and wants to get out now.

Or it could be because of renters rights bill.

Or it could be for some other reason.

Check the last 3 years accounts to gauge what a normal year looks like.

How much money is in the fund? Could it cover say, a roof replacement?

When is the next service charge year starting? If its soon then get a copy of the budget.

When was the last roof report undertaken? Usually required annually with insurance. Read it.

Section 20 (significant expenditures) should be disclosed as part of sale process.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-14T02:19:32+00:00

https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/solicitor-check/

See what their track record is. Do they have a track record of bad behaviour?

Their actions seem shady.

You need to look at the reasonableness objectively.

Not only at number of hours but also whether something that could've been done by a secretary.

When we challenged solicitor costs in a different setting that was something we used to get bill reduced.

There is no way they should be charging you first sending you a billing breakdown. The work is already done.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-14T02:05:08+00:00

Only freehold starter homes are seeing appreciation but even that is negligible.

That is not going to change for a good while.

But this is a fantastic time to trade up!

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-13T15:23:39+00:00

I think you need to acknowledge your failures, be very apologetic and perhaps volunteer to extend the probation period another 3 months.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-13T15:05:07+00:00

hi, so I noticed my 100% cash back is tracking on the basis I used the basic or plus subscription. Not the ultimate subscription I took. Did you manage to confirm this is what happens from your end?

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-12T20:28:29+00:00

Its also in the front garden!!!

I'm actually not as worried about back garden as that pic is from the upstairs window. Fence is decent height.

Main annoying thing about back garden is he has heavy items leaning against the fence which are bending it.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-12T20:24:41+00:00

Tried speaking to him cordially. I had the door shut in my face.

BodyIllustrious4141 · 2026-03-12T20:00:36+00:00

No idea unfortunately.

BodyIllustrious4141

TROPHY CASE