BLOGS

What is a coach house?

A coach house is a property that is situated above a row of garages or carports.

This type of property has become more popular, with many new build developments providing coach house style properties due to their competitive pricing and space-saving design.

What are the legal implications of owning a coach house?

The entire building (including the first-floor property and the ground floor garages or carports) will have a freehold title.

One of the garages or carports will usually belong to the coach house owner and the others will then have long term leases to 3rd party owners (who will likely be owners of surrounding properties).

As an owner of a coach house, you would not only own your property (and garage / carport), but you would also be the landlord of the other garages. You would therefore have additional responsibilities as a landlord.

What additional points should you consider?

There will be rights and obligations set out in the leases for both you as the landlord and the 3rd party owners as tenants.

As owner of the coach house and landlord of the garages/carports, you will need to consider the insurance for the property. Not all insurers provide cover for coach houses and standard buildings insurance for the property will not provide the correct cover. It would be your responsibility to find the right insurance to cover the freehold property and the leasehold garages.

The leasehold garage owners within the coach house will need to arrange their own contents insurance. 

Insurance should not necessarily be any more costly in comparison to a freehold house. However, we would recommend using an insurance broker who can ensure that the details of the coach house are disclosed to the prospective insurance provider.

How can we help at Pardoes?

We can provide expert advice, if you are considering buying a coach house or a property with a coach house garage. Our conveyancing team at Pardoes are well placed to advise you on the ins and outs of coach house ownership or being a tenant of a garage/carport under a coach house.