About The Book

How To Buy A Flat
Liz Hodgkinson

This book offers information on buying a flat and letting a flat, as well as advice on property laws and how to be a landlord...

Further resources

About the Author

Liz Hodgkinson - Liz Hodgkinson is an experienced property developer, landlord and journalist. Over the past decade she has bought, renovated and rented out or lived in many flats of all kinds, from new-build to Victorian, from purpose-built 60s and 70s blocks, to conversions and mansion blocks. She contributes a regular landlord and tenant column to the Evening Standard and also writes for the Mail on Sunday, The Lady, Saga, The Independent and Daily Mail.

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How To Buy A Flat

Below is the chapter list for "How To Buy A Flat". Click any of the chapter headings to read the full text of that chapter online

 
  1. Preface
  2. The History Of Apartment Buildings The First Flats; Housing For The Poor; Moving On; Flat Living Becomes Stylish; The Problems Of Tenure; A Continuing Problem; Reforming Laws; The History Of Service Charges;
  3. What Type Of Flat Is It Best To Buy? Exploring The Types Of Flat Available; Conversion; Mansion Block; Purpose-Built Blocks; Newbuilds; Warehouse Conversions; Ex-Local Authority Blocks; Small Blocks; Large Blocks; Flats Over Shops; Shell Apartments; Shared Ownership; Live/Work Units; Retireme
  4. The Lease Questions To Ask; The Lease Itself; The Main Elements Of A Standard Lease; Further Covenants; Look For Subletting Clauses; Listed Buildings; Where You Own A Share Of The Freehold; Leases Of Ex-Local Authority Flats; Ex-Local Authority Block Service Charges
  5. Management Resident Management Companies; The Landlord And Tenant Act 1985; Difficult Owners; The Paperwork Involved; A Typical List Of What You Might Ask An Agent; Standard Contracts; Meetings And Qualifications; Typical Charges And Services; Accounts And Funds; A B
  6. Increasing The Value Of Your Flat The Options Are:; The Procedure; Here Is The Outcome Of A More Typical Situation; ‘marriage’ Value; Lease Extensions; A Typical Example; Another Example Of A Typical Set Of Figures For A Lease Extension; The Landlord’s Response; If Agreement Cannot Be Reac
  7. Ex-Local Authority Blocks Collective Enfranchisement; Leases Shorter Than 80 Years; A Note On Mortgages; Social Tenants; Service Charges; Residents’ Associations; Breach Of Lease; Investment Value; Is There A Best Buy?;
  8. Letting A Flat The Lease; Restrictive Subletting; What Kind Of Subletting Is Allowed?; Buying A Flat To Let; Carrying Out Building Work; Being A Good (Absentee) Landlord; Finding Tenants; Your Tenant’s Responsibilities; Types Of Tenancy; Short Lets; Holiday Lets; Leasing
  9. When Things Go Wrong These Are The Best Solutions; What If Problems Persist?; In Some Cases, Mediation May Be The Answer; Listed Buildings;
  10. Buying Abroad Apartments In America; Renting Out; Property Clubs; The Costs Stack Up; Timeshare Apartments; Inheritance And Sipps;
  11. Conclusions All New Developments Should As A Matter Of Course Becommonhold; What About Non-Payers?; No Requirement For Reasonableness; Leasehold Tenure Would Disappear;