Buying Apartment (Dublin)

What are the main issues I should be aware of when buying an apartment as an owner occupier?

Thank You.

Leaks

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/leak-in-apartment-and-management-company.212735/#post-1611544
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/leaking-roof-may-prevent-sale.209212/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threa...l-area-due-to-leak-in-above-apartment.202259/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/homebond-claim-water-ingress.171139/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/leak-from-apartment-overhead.196731/

Fire issues

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/fire-extinguisher-maintenance.210738/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/fire-alarms-systems-standards.207744/

Block Insurance

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/mgt-fee-in-arrears-withhold-insurance-claim.208371/

Owners management company

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threa...transfered-title-and-is-now-dissolved.197454/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/management-company-never-set-up.205222/

Managing agents

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/do-managing-agents-get-kickbacks.207209/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/agent-appointed-and-paid-without-an-agm-egm.199204/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threa...refusing-to-implement-agm-resolutions.189602/

Common areas

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/common-areas-fees.210211/
and
https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/common-areas-not-transferred-to-management-co.209041/

Management Fees

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/property-management-fee.210355/

Sinking fund

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/mgt-fee-in-arrears-withhold-insurance-claim.208371/

Covenants and other restrictions on your use of the property

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/mgmt-company-preventing-short-term-lets.205955/

Pyrite

Neighbours

and just to end on a more light hearted note (though I am sure the poster struggled to find it amusing).

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/car-crushed-by-management-company-while-on-vacation.190592/

Thats great, really appreciate it.

Great list ... which would kind of put me off apartments.

Personally would stay away from apartments. Too many issues.

In fairness if I bothered looking for all the problems with buying a house on here, the list would be a lot longer than cremeggs above.
Management fees: No need to worry about gardening, hall, stairs and landing maintenance, rubbish collection, block insurance, roof and gutter repairs.

Security is generally better as you tend to have a two step locking system and less likely to have ground floor windows.

I'd look for top floor if you can as noise always seems to come from above - This brings up the down side of noisy neighbours. Failing top floor have a good stamp on the floor to make sure they're not timber and try getting a corner unit. High % of one bed units makes sure no sprogs will be running around loose.

Look for somewhere that has a large proportion of owner occupiers. They're nosy but they keep a good eye on things.

Make sure there is a good history of a sinking fund.

If you can get dual aspect so it's easy to air the place.

Try getting one in off the street so noise is not an issue from traffic or people roaring into phones as they're walking.

Lifts and security gates are great but expensive to maintain and fix. Try to avoid or management fees could be more expensive.

We lived for 13 years in an apartment. As Elcato pointed out, having a management company, while costly, can have its upsides. Check the management co. records, AGM and audits, you want to steer clear of the ones that have issues with creditors and have no records of undertaking large works in the estate. Ours had most building repainted after a few years, carpets changed, lightning improved and so on.
Our block had 8 apartments, 5 of them owner occupied, and the rest with families. You can get a good feel of the neighbours if you look at the balconies and common area, this will tell you whether they are likely to keep the place clean.



I also second Elcato about lifts: not only expensive, but noisy and with a terrible tendency to break. If you can go for a low rise block, you can be on the top floor and still climb the stairs daily. Also look out for storage as you won't have the benefit of an attic or a shed to park bikes, child toys, etc.