Buying a Flat with the Council as Lease-Holder..........?

[TheTeaLady]

Does anyone have experience of this?
We've offered on a great flat; it's ex council, currently rented out by a private landlord.
The council (Ealing in London) still owns the lease.
How does this work?
Is having the council as leaseholder any different to a random citizen holding it?
There's a row of similar houses on the particular street, agent thinks they're all privately owned now.
They look crap from the outside, need painting etc. Is that the council's responsibility?
What else should I asking the estate agent?
I think she said there was no ground rent.
I'm not from the UK so I don't quite get how it works....
Thanks in advance.

I would say that with any leasehold property you need to make sure that you get good professional legal advice on the terms of the lease, including exactly what's included in the lease. You should look for a good solicitor, and one with some knowledge of "right to buy" property and the problems that can occur. I'm on maternity leave now, but I work for a council legal department and my job now is to be secretary to the solicitor who advises the Council's Home Ownership services on precisely these issues. The estate agent is acting for the seller of the property, you really need to get advice from someone who you are paying to represent your interest.

If these are blocks of flats then the Council might have responsibiliies to decorate the common parts, but that, or more serious works, would be at your cost.

I believe our Home Ownership sends out information packs for properties where it owns the freehold.

Good luck