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Property/DIY

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What do you think of this studio flat?

183 replies

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 11:19

We're going to view this flat with DS at the weekend. It's tiny but in a good spot for him due to being close to a nice town centre and easy to get to work - and all he can afford.
He's currently paying £800 pound a month rent for a room in a house with no access to a proper kitchen (only microwave and fridge) and a shared bathroom so is keen to be putting that money into his own place.
I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on it, thanks!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159386981#/?channel=RES_BUY

Check out this Studio flat for sale on Rightmove

Studio flat for sale in Craven Road, Newbury, RG14 5NE, RG14 for £115,000. Marketed by Downer and Co, Newbury

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159386981#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
canyon2000 · 25/03/2025 13:14

What about Thatcham? He might get more for his money there and it's easy to get into Newbury.

Crikeyalmighty · 25/03/2025 13:15

@SpringIsSpringing25 I wouldn’t change it either- will cost a bomb to Fanny with changing plumbing in kitchen and taking it all out- just to end up with a pretty claustrophobic narrow bedroom - as you say I would rather have a good roomy main room and a separate kitchen rather than trying to make it a 1 bed flat that it really isn’t

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 13:15

Oh also we saw in another studio flat that someone had a double high sleeper and put a sofa underneath it which we thought might work if he got a studio, like this:
https://www.bedkingdom.co.uk/noomi-studio-loft-bed-double.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22287071910&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-5Xb9aeljAMVkaVQBh0B_RtwEAQYASABEgLUIPD_BwE#80=700

Noomi Studio Staircase Loft Bed Double High Sleeper (FSC-Certified)

Get Noomi Studio Loft Bed Double High Sleeper, a stylish space-saving solution that combines comfort and functionality—perfect for any modern bedroom décor.

https://www.bedkingdom.co.uk/noomi-studio-loft-bed-double.html?cq_cmp=22287071910&cq_net=x&cq_plac=&cq_plt=gp&cq_src=google_ads&cq_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-5Xb9aeljAMVkaVQBh0B_RtwEAQYASABEgLUIPD_BwE#80=700

OP posts:
SpringIsSpringing25 · 25/03/2025 13:19

TeaRoseTallulah · 25/03/2025 12:36

Oil heaters aren't cheap to run, they're still electric.

Yes, they're still electric, but they heat a room up quickly and can be set on load to keep the room warm. I used them before I had the central heating put in and they're very effective and efficient.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 25/03/2025 13:20

Ladybrows · 25/03/2025 11:50

Many people with flats like that would make the kitchen into the bedroom and then have an open plan lounge/kitchen. Seems good value but I don’t know the area.

Was going to say the same, the kitchen should be a bedroom and the main room a kitchen/lounge.

SpringIsSpringing25 · 25/03/2025 13:22

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 13:15

Oh also we saw in another studio flat that someone had a double high sleeper and put a sofa underneath it which we thought might work if he got a studio, like this:
https://www.bedkingdom.co.uk/noomi-studio-loft-bed-double.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22287071910&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-5Xb9aeljAMVkaVQBh0B_RtwEAQYASABEgLUIPD_BwE#80=700

Personally, I wouldn't choose that, but I'm not as young as I used to be!🤣🤣

Thing is, there are a lot of nice sofa beds and arrangements these days. It just depends what he feels comfortable with and how often he's planning on having other people over.

Flipperti · 25/03/2025 13:31

SpringIsSpringing25 · 25/03/2025 13:22

Personally, I wouldn't choose that, but I'm not as young as I used to be!🤣🤣

Thing is, there are a lot of nice sofa beds and arrangements these days. It just depends what he feels comfortable with and how often he's planning on having other people over.

and not much use if he gets a partner

Differentstarts · 25/03/2025 13:48

It's fine for a starter home. He will be able to be more picky with his next property in a few years

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 13:50

He's autistic so visitors will be few and far between I expect, he's more likely to be one of those people typical on MN that never open the door to anyone! For the same reason partners are not on the horizon. If he had a sofa bed it would be in permanent bed mode as he'd never be bothered to change it from one to the other. He's a computer geek with pretty much 0 practical ability (when it come to remodelling kitchens etc at least).

Oil heaters are a good idea, we might also see if we can find out more about the flat @TheCurious0range suggested as well if anyone knows anything about extending a lease?

Thatcham is out as he works north of Newbury and there's no bus from there unfortunately.

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 25/03/2025 13:51

The curious orange one does say ' share of the freehold ' so questions to the estate agent.

TerryWoganFanGirl · 25/03/2025 13:58

I extended a lease on a property which had approx 82 years left it cost £10k but was a while ago. Looks like it might be more straightforward and less costly when you own a share of freehold. This link is worth a read: www.starckuberoi.co.uk/property/share-of-freehold/share-of-freehold-property-lease-extension/

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 14:00

TerryWoganFanGirl · 25/03/2025 13:58

I extended a lease on a property which had approx 82 years left it cost £10k but was a while ago. Looks like it might be more straightforward and less costly when you own a share of freehold. This link is worth a read: www.starckuberoi.co.uk/property/share-of-freehold/share-of-freehold-property-lease-extension/

That's interesting to know, thanks.

Oh just noticed the @TheCurious0range one says 'offers in excess of £130,000' - I also see it was reduced in January. I wonder if the short lease is preventing it from selling? Does offers in excess mean no chance of taking a below asking price offer?

OP posts:
RenovationNightmare · 25/03/2025 14:02

The service charge on what looks like a period flat (with without lift etc) seems excessive. Id'd also worry about resale, and it's all electric heating. But I don't know the area so perhaps it's worth it.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 25/03/2025 14:02

The studio property says ' guide ' price.
so between offers over and guide, no one knows what the vendor actually wants / needs / will accept.

LollyLand · 25/03/2025 14:04

£800!? Yikes.

Its tiny but his own space I guess.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 25/03/2025 14:06

re the studio, I would be asking what the service charge covers anyway, just under £100 a month - for what ?
buildings insurance ? communual cleaning ? gardening ? window cleaning etc.

same with the other property.

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 14:06

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 25/03/2025 14:02

The studio property says ' guide ' price.
so between offers over and guide, no one knows what the vendor actually wants / needs / will accept.

Yes, I wish they'd all use the same language! Guide price sounds more promising than offers in excess of but that might just be me making assumptions.

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 25/03/2025 14:08

technically + £100 is offers over :)

edited for spelling error !

itsleviosa · 25/03/2025 14:14

RenovationNightmare · 25/03/2025 14:02

The service charge on what looks like a period flat (with without lift etc) seems excessive. Id'd also worry about resale, and it's all electric heating. But I don't know the area so perhaps it's worth it.

I’m up north in a flat worth 120k and service charge is the best part of £240pm Blush
No lift or gym or concierge or well, anything!

LollyLand · 25/03/2025 14:14

TeaRoseTallulah · 25/03/2025 12:36

I know someone who bought a studio and made it into a 2 bed, it was a great investment.

My ex did similar with his flat. He completely redid the whole layout and got a very good sized bedroom and spare room/office. Moved the kitchen and created a new bathroom. Fab sized living room with dining space.

It’s doable but he went into it knowing it would be a project. He’s still there very happy 12 years later.

I don’t think it would be wise if he’s only moving to get out of a rental and has no plans to invest in it.

DazzlingCuckoos · 25/03/2025 14:15

Spring025 · 25/03/2025 13:50

He's autistic so visitors will be few and far between I expect, he's more likely to be one of those people typical on MN that never open the door to anyone! For the same reason partners are not on the horizon. If he had a sofa bed it would be in permanent bed mode as he'd never be bothered to change it from one to the other. He's a computer geek with pretty much 0 practical ability (when it come to remodelling kitchens etc at least).

Oil heaters are a good idea, we might also see if we can find out more about the flat @TheCurious0range suggested as well if anyone knows anything about extending a lease?

Thatcham is out as he works north of Newbury and there's no bus from there unfortunately.

https://www.lease-advice.org/ is a good website for information about leasehold properties.

The studio does come with a share of freehold too, so hopefully a long lease. Ordinarily when the freehold of the property comes under the control of the leaseholders, the leases are extended to 999 years and the ground rent reduces to a "peppercorn", so it is unusual to see that £50 is still paid each year on the studio, even with a share of freehold.

For whichever flat you're looking at, if you're serious about putting an offer in, I'd ask to see the most recent service charge accounts. That will show you how much money is held in reserves for any major repairs, such as the roof if it were to start leaking. This would all be needed during the conveyancing process anyway, so the vendor will need this information to hand at some point anyway.

Even though the studio is a ground floor flat, you'd still be responsible for 50% of roof repairs, for example, unless there are sufficient reserves to cover it.

Given it doesn't look like there are many communal parts to the flats in the property, £1,100 does seem quite high. Much of it is likely the buildings insurance for the property, but it's worth looking at where else the money is going.

And yes, extending a lease when you have a share of the property is much easier as you're effectively partly granting permission to yourself to extend the lease.

The cost of the lease extension goes into the freeholder accounts (normally a limited company), but this is then taxable in that company. The net "profit" from issuing a lease extension is then available for the freehold company to pay a dividend to the shareholders, so you might get some of it back that way.

RenovationNightmare · 25/03/2025 14:16

itsleviosa · 25/03/2025 14:14

I’m up north in a flat worth 120k and service charge is the best part of £240pm Blush
No lift or gym or concierge or well, anything!

That's crazy. I owned a period/Warner flat in Walthamstow/east London and my service charge was under £300 a year, and ground rent was £60.

itsleviosa · 25/03/2025 14:17

RenovationNightmare · 25/03/2025 14:16

That's crazy. I owned a period/Warner flat in Walthamstow/east London and my service charge was under £300 a year, and ground rent was £60.

It’s ridiculous but because we are in 2 blocks I can’t get enough people to agree to move from them under right to manage as a lot are rented
the management company did get dragged into parliament last week to explain themselves so fingers crossed….

DazzlingCuckoos · 25/03/2025 14:18

RenovationNightmare · 25/03/2025 14:16

That's crazy. I owned a period/Warner flat in Walthamstow/east London and my service charge was under £300 a year, and ground rent was £60.

Buildings insurance has gone up excessively since Grenfell.

I do the accounts of some flats that used to pay £75k a year in buildings insurance and it's now £225k a year!

For buildings that are not clad or high rise...

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 25/03/2025 14:28

DevilledEgg · 25/03/2025 11:54

I'll never get over the differences in property prices in this country. Where I live you'd get an excellent fully renovated modernised 2 bed house or a fairly decent 3 bed house for that money. To think you're getting about a quarter of a house for that amount of money makes me weep

I was going to say the same, you can get a 3 bed house here for that

Its very small, he would need to be inventive with storage, wardrobe, etc.