Section 20 for Decent Home Standard compliance

[Davo84]

Hello everyone,

I am in the process of buying a repossession flat where the freeholder is the Council of Lambeth.

I have been informed that there is a S20 notice that is going to get shortly in the second stage. It estimates at the moment £3600 for external decoration in order to meet the Decent Home Standard.

Do you think is there any way to challenge that? My understanding of the Decent Home Standard is limited to the property, and not to external decorations. Also the notice has been issued before my acquisition of the lease (contracts have not been exchanged yet), is this another way I could tackle this?

[Gordon999]

You have no right to challenge until you become the owner of the leasehold flat. But if you think the cost of external decoration is unacceptable, then you should not be buying the flat.

[leaseholdanswers]

No the DH applies to exterior works too- no point doing an internal refurbishment if the roof leaks or the
windows are rotten.

Be glad they are doing it, in many cases these works are long delayed and the windows are rotten the building a shambles, and you have trouble attracting tenants of nay quality.

Even after you purchase it you can still challenge the costs being fair and reasonable. But be warned LVT's are usually sympathetic to councils except in the cases of manifest cock ups.

[nobody]

You have been informed about this and you have the option to pull out or still buy, Since the flat should be better after these works which you will benefit from its a fair choice,

If you are put off a bit you could ask the vender for a reduction in the purchas price lets say £2k to offset these costs, No harm asking.