Which flat to choose?

[user1495443009]

Hi

We are deciding between 2 properties and can't make our mind on which one to buy so looking for some opinions.

First flat
2 bedrooms
Good light
Split over two floors, living area in first and bedrooms on second floor
Good size loft so perhaps possibility of extension.
Only one bathroom which is 2 sets of stairs from the bedrooms
Not double glazed
A bit busy road but not main road
Closer to the shops
Nice view
On top of a private health crater which open on Saturdays.
Separara entrance

Second flat
All in one level, first floor flat
2 bedrooms and one bathroom
Residential street
Share entrance
Loft but not big enough for conversion
First floor tenants don't seem to care much about the the entrance or the gardens.
10k more than the first one but in a nice residential street.

Things that put me off of the first one a bit is that the bathroom is a bit far from the bedroooms and perhaps being on top of a shop/medical centre is not good but it has good light and good size loft. Second is probably better located and in a more quiet Rd and all in one level but loft is not as big, flat is not as bright and kitchen a bit smaller and tenant on ground floor don't seem to care much.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Second one, but I'm a nighttime wee-r and the idea of that much of a walk to a bathroom is the deal breaker!

Have you also checked the mortgage situation because it can be harder to get one on a flat above commercial premises (which might also make it harder to sell)

Is there anywhere to at least put a toilet on the bedroom level with flat 1?
What's parking like? (if that's applicable to you). Being above commercial premises might make parking harder.
I've lived above commercial premises before (renting) and actually liked it as it tends to be quieter in the evenings and at weekends, no neighbours with loud music.

Would you actually own the loft in either flat? You'd need to check the leasehold/freehold documents.

As TwoBlueFish states above, check the lease regarding the lofts in both properties. It is very unusual for a flat to include the loft as part of its demise. If you have access to a loft, it can be used as storage, but it is doubtful whether you could convert it to living space. Even if you get consent from the freeholder to convert, it still forms part of the structure of the building and would be owned by the landlord/freeholder, so you couldn't sell in the future as a 4 bedroomed flat as opposed to a 2 bedroomed flat.

Are you getting a mortgage? Some mortgage lenders are reluctant to lend on properties above commercial units so your mortgage options could be limited.

I wouldn't make a choice until I found out the lease details, service charge and ground rent.

Thank you very much. This is very helpful. I will check the loft situation; the only way to go through the loft if through the flat in both apartments so I assumed it comes with the flat, will check the lease though. They are Victorian conversions.

It seems very tricky to put a toilet near the bedrooms in the first flat without taking space from one bedroom and it will probably be expensive. Plus windows are not double glazed

Regarding parking, both roads get busy but perhaps second one is easier to park as the first one is closest to the shops and second one is only houses.

We are getting a mortgage and got an agreement in principle but will check the situation regarding being on top of commercial premises again; we mentioned it to the broker though and it didn't seem to be a problem but who knows when the valuation is done by the bank.