Anyone have experience in trying to 'lift' a property restrictive convenant?

[tllm2]

We have a restrictive convenant on our house from 1928, which we think is still enforcable and which we'd ideally like to have lifted/revoked (whatever the correct term is).

Does anyone have experience in this area? - any idea of the cost involved, presumably its not a question of being unable to remove it - just what the 'value' of the covenant might be, any idea of whether there is some kind of formula involved in calculating the value of a 'covenant'?

Not really sure where to start, or indeed whether the fees involved are likely to be so prohibitively expensive to not even pursue it.

[womanofdulwich]

I think you can take out some kind of Insurance policy, if you cant negotiate it away.

[womanofdulwich]

Can you share what it is?

[IlonaM]

THis is rather old advice from a conveyancer (2012), but might give you some pointers:

https://www.land-registry-documents.co.uk/news-blog/covenantswhat-you-need-to-know-about/

The Land Registry might be able to provide advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-hm-land-registry

[Sue]

Could the solicitor you used when you bought the house give advice?

[tllm2]

It includes restrictions (without permission) relating to not making any changes to the plan or elevation of the property and not being allowed any other construction on the premises (I don't know if that includes things like sheds etc).

There are other things like not operating certain businesses from the property or storing plant or machinery - which we have no problem with.

We will probably go back to our original solicitor, but just wondered whether anyone had been down this road before and had any experience of what removing a convernant might cost.

[womanofdulwich]

It does depend. For example this is pretty standard if you live on the Dulwich Estate.

[alex_b]

We had this on a property in Twickenham that restricted our ability to alter the property. We purchased an insurance policy which was very cheap (less than ?150 I think). One thing to note is it was only valid if we didn?t have contact details for the original estate who entered the covenant. In other words it?s better to not ask or try to renegotiate unless you?re sure they?re still around and will take action - like the Dulwich Estate.