Community fee - Different question

I have a property on an urbanisation where the community is a flat rate whether it is a house or an apartment.

I am thinking of buying the house next to me and knocking them into one. The council has given verbal approval, architect says no problems with everything, lawyer says everything easy. The only problem no one seems to be able to answer is if I will be liable for 1 or 2 community fees.

Does any one have experience with sitautions like this?

Many thanks

Will the resulting property be registered on one, new deed? If not, logically, you would be liable for two lots of community fees, but having said that, it's pretty unusual for all properties to pay a flat rate, rather than a percentage of the total budget as per the assessment quota on each deed (as per Horizontal Law). I wonder how legal that situation is? There would have to be a clause on the master deed of the urbanisation to that effect, otherwise the Horizontal Law would apply. Anyway, for you to only pay one fee on the resulting property, where two seperate fees have been paid until now for the two seperate properties, everyone else on the urbanisation would surely have to pay a little bit more to make up for the one lost fee - would they agree to that? I doubt it. If that was the case, theoretically, you could buy up all but one property on the urb, and just split the entire community's costs 50/50 with the poor sod who owns the one remaing apartment. Can't be right.

 Personally I would say you are liable for 2 fees. The fees will be calculated on the amount of properties on the urb. If you purchased yours and one across the road, you would be liable for 2, so why would it be different because they are next to each other and you decide to make them one? Why is it you think the rest of the community will pick up the shortfall in fees caused by there being one less property?

Mark

 My neighbour was going to this when I lived in a flat.  He was going to knock his into mine and create one, large, upstairs apartment.

He then found he would have to pay two lots of community fees as the fees are calculated on the amount of properties.  The solicitor also told him he would have to pay two lots of IBI as well.  In addition, the water company informed him they would not remove one meter and he would have to pay the standing charges on two water accounts. He didn't bother with the electric company as had given up by then.

Looks like you would need to pay double for everything if you go ahead.

(Incidentally, someone I knew in UK was going to do the same thing.  The council said they would only charge one lot of council tax fees but it would almost double due to the extremely high council tax band he would put himself into - it would have gone from Band C at £1227 per year to Band G at £2301 a year.)

 Thanks for replies.   NO need for any more thanks I think I have the answer I need.