Thoughts on this house/maisonette

[lilyannofpembleton]

Hello,
I am looking at this property and would love to hear your thoughts. I love it but have never lived in a period property or a maisonette before so would love to sense check the choice, as well as hearing any opinions on maintenance requirements, potential issues, things to watch out for.
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/60334602/?search_identifier=c190c45db2c9ac5444880a71b43c6f66
Thanks a lot in advance!

I love it 😍 I lived in a period maisonette which was rented but I really liked living there. If I could have afforded to buy it I would.
Make sure you get a full survey for damp etc but that looks well maintained (and you’d hope so for the price!)

Beautiful! Buy it!

Effectively you are sharing a big house with another person or household so the upstairs neighbours are key, both in terms of how noisy they are and in now interested they are in the property's upkeep. Would be preferable if the other property was owner occupied not rented out, if you can find this out.

Do you need a mortgage? Only thing I'm not sure on is sharing the freehold, but I am sure there'll be lenders who will do it.

Absolutely stunning and much bigger than I anticipated.

Love it. And love that the bedrooms are below YOU not below the upper area

It’s beautiful and looks as if it’s been well looked after. I’d be asking about the neighbours though.

A share of the freehold is preferable to someone not living there owning the freehold. It's beautifully done, but as ever, very expensive due to location.

I grew up v close to there. Do you know the area? You’ll be able to hear the trains at Clapham Junction. They rumble on through the night.

At least the upstairs neighbours won't be above the bedrooms.

It's been nicely done.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads

I grew up v close to there. Do you know the area? You’ll be able to hear the trains at Clapham Junction. They rumble on through the night.

Really? I couldn't hear anything on viewing! I remember staying in a flat a few streets away and couldn't hear anything. Is it more noticeable at night?

@lilyannofpembleton, it might have better glazing than we did. Our house was wobbly old sash windows, but could definitely hear trains. Got used to it though.

I think it's lovely. Looks well done, the fact they've colour coded the underfloor heating suggesting the renovation has been done well. I also like the fact that the bedrooms are below your living area. The garden looks lovely and not a bad size for the area. I'm surprised you can't hear Clapham junction though.

Do you think you'll offer?

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I am not sure. I love it but a bit scared of the maisonette considerations + Freeholder responsibility +lack of insulation +old building. My heart is in there but my head has reservations

[quote lilyannofpembleton]@HaaaaaveyoumetTed I am not sure. I love it but a bit scared of the maisonette considerations + Freeholder responsibility +lack of insulation +old building. My heart is in there but my head has reservations[/quote]
Is there lack of insulation? My Victorian house is well insulated.

What are the other options in your preferred area and budget?

I would be very wary because of the neighbours upstairs. MIL lives in a ground floor flat and hasn't had a kitchen for 13 years (!) because there's an intermittent leak coming from upstairs. Upstairs landlord doesn't give a shit and freeholder couldn't care less. It6s pointless replacing the kitchen as long as the leak is there. She can't sell the flat because of the leak. I would never live in a flat with people above since that experience. We're currently looking at moving into a house with an annexe to get her out of there.

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed The refurbishment works did not include new insulation. Seller did not know if the house was insulated or not. What type of maintenance have you had to do in your Victorian house? Anything I should specifically ask about?

@ISeeTheLight that sounds like a terrible experience. I would be the freeholder in this case so responsible for the repairs ("hopefully covered by insurance). One thing that also worries me is that the seller bought a couple of years ago and selling already to buy a house. Supposedly to have more space for his dog. No way to know if it is because he had issues with the flat

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads i might do a second viewing to double check. Apart from train noises, would you recommend the area? I know it is close to Northcote road which is now super posh but is it equally well regarded or a bit less because it is on the "other side of the tracks"?

[quote lilyannofpembleton]@HaaaaaveyoumetTed The refurbishment works did not include new insulation. Seller did not know if the house was insulated or not. What type of maintenance have you had to do in your Victorian house? Anything I should specifically ask about?[/quote]
I'd want to know who the other freeholders are, is there a management company, when was the roof last done.

We bought ours as a wreck so we've rewired, central heating, absolutely everything basically.

@Bettybantz I know! It is terrifyingly expensive!

The inside is very nice but the outside and location is not to my liking.

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed that's what the seller did. Complete rewire and piping, new bathrooms. The flat owner owns the freehold which is sold with the flat. All other flats in the building are leaseholders. There is a roof terrace so roof is fairly recent.
My budget doesn't give me much in zone 2 close to a tube/good station. I was initially looking at houses but couldn't find anything worthwhile with a nice garden....

@NannaMcPhoo What are your thoughts on the location?

It’s nicely done but you will hear the trains. And they’re constant.

Would you think about moving a little further out? For around that budget you could possibly get a whole house just down the road in Earlsfield/Southfields.

I would find out who is responsible for roof maintenance and other repairs and what the process is to sort it out. I can't tell from.the picture, but I assume you both have your own front door?