Mortgage application in, went and forgot an additional form of ID so need to drop that off on Monday

Good luck

Cheers, it's a bit daunting and I keep second guessing myself after making decisions on it (fixed rate length & rate, term etc)... same as any significant purchase really (had massive buyers remorse after getting my A4 about 3 years ago)

Neighbours should be evicted a week tomorrow so we can go have a proper look at the property then, already cleared up any questions on the leasehold status etc, just need to clarify exactly how long is left on it, ideally need to extend it before we move in as we'll have to be there 2 years before we can extend it ourselves

Make sure you go through the lease with a fine tooth comb. Check things like building insurance and if there is a reserve fund for any big maintence costs. Are there any communal water tanks? Is there a service charge for the Estate?

Service charges can be £600-1200 a year for a flat.
There's also usually some sort of major works agreement for lifts, tanks, the roof etc so make sure you budget for them.

If the lease isn't too long as them to extend it as part of the sale

Look at the leasehold Advisory Service

http://www.lease-advice.org/lvtdecisions/

good info and a calculator for lease extensions.

It's a semi detached and the leasehold is to a local organisation, they said it was £40 a year (not sure exactly what it covers though as it was a quick chat while I was on my way to work on a morning)

IIRC there is 86 years left on it currently and it can be renewed after being there 2 years but the neighbour said they send a letter every so often with the offer of buying out the lease on the property (might look into it at some point or just extend it 99 years soon after as we'll have time to renew it before the 80 year mark) otherwise see how much it'll cost to cover it as part of the sale (on top of what they've already said they would do in replacing the built in kitchen appliances and potential decorating)

If you have any specific questions on extending it let me know and I'll ask my step sister. She's doing her flat at the moment.

I remember when my Mum did hers she got it with her upstairs neighbour so they both owned it. I don't remember it being particulalrly difficult.

Lease on a house? Not heard of that before.

Is that just the ground rent charge?

I think so but it's down as a leasehold officially on the records from what I can tell

The semis are the only leasehold properties on the street

Hot Wheels makes Darth Vader car

Mark

I just ate a box of chocolates. Not a little box. A 200g box. In one go. Was only supposed to have two. But suddenly I started picking at the box and the contents were gone in under 30 mins.

Jesus. You better run home tonight

It's something like 800kcals. Theoretically, I could eat a small meal and still hit my daily target of 1200kcals.