Buying the freehold

[viktoria]

We have bought an ex council flat a few years ago and the council have now offered us to buy the freehold - which we are very eager to do. When I mailed and asked if they could give us an idea how much it would cost, they came back with lots of other information but no approximate figures or range of figures.
Has anybody bought the freehold from the council and can share any experience at all?
We will get a solicitor involved at some stage but I just thought I'd ask here first as I don't know anybody who has been in this situation

How many flats are in the block? Would it be a share of freehold with the other flats?

My brother and I inherited my father's retirement flat in the south east which we are currently renting out. The freehold owner offered to sell, it cost us just under £20,000 plus solicitors costs. The flat owners who decided to buy the freeholds have set up a company and now appointed new managing agents (the original firm were useless) fortunately one of the residents has taken the lead as there is a lot to sort out. We had one solicitor acting for all those who bought the freeholds. Much more cost efficient. I would suggest you contact other residents and get together. The cost of the freehold does vary according to how long the remaining lease is and the value of the property. There are place online where you can upload this information and it gives you an idea of the cost. Not sure if being a council flat makes any difference.

You can get an approximate idea by using this (free) government service. They tend to under-estimate.

A friend bought the freehold of the block (an old converted house) in which he lived. His upstairs neighbour was a council tenant who desperately wanted to be rehoused. He became responsible for investigating the many complaints she had about her flat, trying to sort out repairs and then claim the money back from the council. It was not fun. I'd normally encourage anyone to buy the freehold but, going by my friend's experience, I'd say beware.

There are lots of calculators online to help you get a rough idea, for example: https://www.freeholdcalculator.com/home.php

Just read the response from 'everythingcrossed' in my situation we have managing agents dealing with any problems so it wouldn't fall to freeholders to resolve. The flats are all privately owned

Thank you everybody. Food for thought.
Really appreciate everybody's comment!