Selling a basement flat

I'm separated 14 months but still living in the SC basement apartment below the family home. It was convenient but time to move on.

The default plan is to sell whole house and use the funds to buy two smaller properties. However I'm wondering if there might be other options that would allow wife and youngest (17yrs old) to stay put ... like selling only the basement apartment. It's fully self contained and has been let out before, separate gas and electricity, only the mains water is shared.

Is this a common thing? Are there planning/ legal complications with changing the current status (single property). Are there tax issues or could I expect to be able to put pretty much all of the net sale funds towards buying an apartment elsewhere?

I will just add that all mortgages and loans have been paid off however cash funds, current income and future pensions are all very modest so limited ability to 'top up'

I think only the sale of a primary principal residence is tax free.
The flat would have to be separately in your name as your PPR.

This article discusses splitting a property. There seems to be many planning issues with doing it, especially fire regulations. I'd imagine that's why it's not that common.


I can't understand why people can't do this more easily because there are ridiculously few housing options for single people, and/or elderly wishing to downsize.