to think nobody will ever want to move to a new build in the future?

[AWholeNewName]

I'm moving from a newish build - it's a flat and we have been here six years. The maintenance has driven us out of the estate. We pay an extortionate fee for our flat block each month where there's only eight flats in it, a huge fee for the ground rent, another for the estate, a charge once a season and we just received a letter saying the cost will go up next year. When the estate was new the deal was that the builders would pay the maintenance for the first year and the contract said it would double every two. I now pay nearly the same as my mortgage in maintenance each month and have to pay council tax on top of that. I wouldn't mind if we had a well kept estate but it's rough to be honest and has hit the six year mark that it needs a new lick of paint. I'm so glad in moving, but I can't see who would ever choose to live in a flat in the future.

Aibu or will something have to give eventually with how things are going?

Yanbu
Yabu

Thanks for being so candid.

What are the facilities? On site gym? Swimming pool?

You said you loved the lifestyle there and that's what attracted you so it would be good to learn what the lifestyle factors are.

Lucky you finding a buyer who is cool with the additional costs. Weight off your mind!

Thats OK! It's been a real eye opener to me how much these lifestyles cost. We do have a lovely park, tennis courts, a nature trail type walk round the outside that you'd struggle to find in the built up areas around it that is handy if you want to feel like you're out in nature ( but I've walked it everyday nearly for 6 years so it's a bit boring now! ), no gym but there has been talk of one and the space on standby for years. In fairness I dunno if covid affected the building plans on that. I'm not sure any of our maintenance money had gone towards it though as it doesn't exist so I don't think I'm paying for a service that isn't there iyswim. We have a little supermarket type shop, a hairdresser and two takeaways. It's lovely and it's in keeping with the whole look of the estate but realistically, I grew up in a really rough area and I had just as nice a time with takeaways, hair dressers and tennis courts in the local community areas too. Oh there's also well kept gardens with nice flowers etc. I'll miss them but it's not a gated community so technically if I want to still use them I can- although I am moving a good hour and a half into the country so I doubt I will lol.

My friend has a lovely detached new build..It was quite expensive (for the area), but it’s so nice. Makes me want to sell me 1830s house, a buy a New Build, all clean lines & open plan

I live in a new build and pay £50 a quarter for factor fee

my parents’ house was built in 1991 and they pay 105 a month so it’s never a guarantee an older estate will be cheaper

This is he thing they are stunning to he fair but I bet your house is too! I do love the look of new builds. I've heard in houses it isn't so bad and I do like a nice look of a uniform estate. I wonder if the maintenance companies will be more regulated in future though with labour's proposals to build so many new homes, surely the companies can't go wild and just charge whatever they like?

I’m in a new build house - been here 10 years - can’t wait to get out in a couple of years when DCs finish uni.
We thought we’d sell easily but although we haven’t gone on the market, neighbours’ haven’t made any profit so we know it’s gonna be tough.
We also pay some yearly charges but nowhere near the same as flats nearby.

I live in a new build and I know what you mean OP.

Buying off plan was great, and they did Part Exchange so that really reduced stress and drama.

The snagging got dealt with but some other buyers had a terrible time with leaks/cracks etc.

It was the right house at the right time for us, but I am very tired of living so close to other people. Also lack of parking is annoying.

Anyway the biggest issue for us is that it's a townhouse. It's an awkward layout and so tall that nobody can reach the roof without scaffolding (to sort solar panels etc)

The maintenance fee is about £400 per year and that's reasonable.

We have some nice facilities and the estate is maintained well.

Your solicitor should have made you aware of the charges when you bought the flat. Should produce something like a "report on title" when you bought it.

I bought a few of these places for clients and was always shocked at how much of a rip off they were. £500 to produce a photocopied management pack with half the information missing. Such a con. Service charge to do x and y. I made the clients aware but most of the time they just bought them anyway.

I believe there are changes to the law afoot and leaseholders can force a "right to manage" if enough of them agree. Or challenge costs at a tribunal.

I really like new builds, but our last one was an absolute bugger to sell and we took a massive financial hit. They may be modern and well insulated but in the historic city where I live, people aren't interested in them. Plus, they don't tend to be in the desirable areas.
Current home is a Georgian basement flat with single glazing and a bit of damp. It's in an amazing location and will be snapped up when sold 🤷‍♀️
Period properties do tend to hold their value better.

It’s horses for courses….I can’t bear a uniform estate ….I live in a 1870s semi….there’s a row of 10 of them….then there’s some Victorian 4 and 5 bed homes……followed by some 2 bed terraces….across the road from us are some 30s semis….in between the house there is a Methodist church….a funeral directors and lane leading to a mushroom farm….further along is a small park and some 50s bungalows …..i just love the variety

I hate new builds with a passion.
One near to me is built on a flood plain

A lot of people park their cars on the pavements in new (ie less than 20 years old) housing estates, as the roads are now built too narrow for cars to be parked on. If they parked on the roadside, there would be insufficient space for larger vehicles to pass.

Jesus! Have you exchanged contracts yet?

I'm in the NW and pay £200 a month service charges
My block has 4 apartments

I live on a new build estate and my house is freehold. We do have factors' fees as the roads are unadopted but they are £12 a month to keep the communal areas tidy. We also have playparks, paths and green spaces.
Oh and a double driveway and garage.

Oh and I'm in the NW
No facilities. No lift. I have a private garden
The rest of the "garden" is tiny and they hack back the grass once a month and ruin it
Cleaners spend 7 mins here once every 2 weeks

We moved from a 3 bed new build. I bought it young and was foolish. Was a leasehold and really hard to sell. It also had annual fees for the lease. It is truly a scam.

Something will be done about this eventually.

Mainly because of the sheer level of greed involved.

If they had been a bit more reasonable, say increasing by £100 a year they may have gotten away with it for longer. But doubling every 2 years is silly because the amount needed to be paid becomes unsustainable in a fairly short timescale.

THIS.
I would only want a leasehold property if it came with a share of the freehold. I thought that kind of set up was illegal now, or at the very least you have some sort of right to buy the freehold?

I owned 5 properties and 4 have been new builds.

I've loved each and every one.

I would only buy new builds.

I'm sorry you've had a bad expbut mind have all been excellent.

In terms of the initial cost, a private park and trail and tennis courts would be pricey

but I’m amazed at a contract saying it doubles each year. I’m in a new build and it’s not like that. I’m really surprised anyone agrees to a charge doubling each year.

I fully expect my charge to go up but doubling every year isn’t something I thought would sell. I’m glad you have sold but that literally means £7k next year, £14k the year after? I’m surprised a contract like that exists tbh purely as I thought they’d never get away with it.

I was considering a new build house when I was a FTB a few years ago, but was shocked to discover that even the houses were leasehold.

I wasn't willing to consider a leasehold so didn't even bother going to look at them in the end.

It sounds like an upmarket development, and you say yourself you wanted an upmarket lifestyle and image. Of course that's not going to be cheap.
Plenty of people will continue to buy new builds, like anything it's a case of going through the contract carefully and working out whether you can afford/are willing to pay for the charges.