Fire risk assessment and asbestos report

[theheatherjane1]

Hi all

Trying to sell my london flat, which is in a converted house with the freeholder living downstairs, we share a hallway.
Buyer's solicitor has requested the above mentioned Fire risk & asbestos report.
This means nothing to me and I'm pretty sure it didn't crop up when I bought the flat six years ago.
Anyone have any experience of these?
I've done a light google and it seems like getting this report done may cost around £600, which actually makes me want to sit down and bawl.

[WoopWoop200]

Do you pay a service charge to the freeholder?
I am leasehold and pay a service charge to a management company. They pay to have the fire risk assessment and asbestos report on the behalf of owners selling/buying.

[theheatherjane1]

I'm meant to pay a small annual service charge to the guy downstairs but as I pay for 90percent of the house repairs then I've never bothered.
I'm so loathe to ask him to do this as he has many health problems and no money. Ugh.

[wowfudge]

Ah - if you are supposed to pay a service charge then it's likely you will have to get up to date with the payments before you can exchange with your buyer.

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

You may not need to get these done. My buyer last year asked about the same, but it was her solicitor's standard list of requests rather than a requirement as such. They were told there wasn't either document and that was the end of it.

[theheatherjane1]

Thank you
I've emailed the solicitors asking if we definitely need to get it done, we'll see what they come back with.