Southern Land Securities / Together Property Management

[bossy_flossy]

Hello,

I am in the process of purchasing a property and have found out that the Freeholder is Southern Land Securities.

After reading some of the very troubling stories here about Southern Land Securities / Together Property Management (excessive fees for unnecessary works - essentially being cowboys) I am having doubts. We are still waiting for the contracts to be drawn up and I am yet to instruct a Surveyor.

I wondered if anyone had any advice on how to proceed?

It's a bit of a dream property for me, and as a first time buyer (and solo) I am fairly limited by my budget in terms of what/where I can buy.

There are 5 other properties in the building, 2 are owner occupiers and the other 3 are rented out.

I would be keen to establish RTM or even buy the freehold if I could get them on board, but I'm worried that I am setting myself up for years of stress if I proceed with this purchase,

is there is anything I can do before contracts are drawn up

I would appreciate the advice now.

FYI the current vendor is extending the lease as part of the sale there might also be room to negotiate with the freeholders in this part of the transaction too.

Thankyou!

[stu007]

Hi

Welcome to CAG

Well I think you have probably had a good read through the Forum about this lot and the way they act.

Yes the current vendor is trying to extend the lease note I do say trying as that will be up to Southern Land and what they are going to charge that current vendor as Southern Land as you will see from other Topics on the Forum tend not to negotiate they come out with an outrageous price and it's take it or leave it.

So you will need to be careful that the lease is extended before you agree to sign anything and it is in front of you writing.

You also need to bear in mind as Southern Land are the Freeholder it's not just your property but the entire building/grounds and any repair extra to the building everyone in that building will share the costs and you have probably seen some of those cost in the topics on the Forum that you looked at  so you will need to bear that in mind as well.

As for the RTM yes you may want to do this but without the agreement of all those in that building and as you will be new to them they may air caution or not and agree with you but it's then getting it through Southern Land.

Have you been to the property/building and even had a chat with some of those in the building and asked them what Southern Land are like and even your suggestion on RTM.