But think carefully before going down this route, as it can be a costly and lengthy process.Despite the problems, purchasing a lease is the only option for millions of people who buy flats. The Lease spokesman says they shouldn’t let scare stories put them off: “Buying a leasehold shouldn’t be a concern as long as you know and appreciate your rights and obligations. With a well-written lease and a properly managed building, a leasehold flat should provide a perfectly good home and a secure investment. But before buying, find out who the managing agents are and what the service charge was in the previous two or three years. And find out, too, if there are any leaseholders in the block or house who have had a problem with the managing agent in the past.Contacts: the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations, Lease, , or 0845 345 1993; the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal 0845 345 1993.. In August, my husband Jim took a call from our estate agent about someone wanting to view our house: “They said something about a television programme,” he added casually.

“But I didn’t take it in.”

In August, my husband Jim took a call from our estate agent about someone wanting to view our house: “They said something about a television programme,” he added casually “But I didn’t take it in.”
“Good,” I thought. “Potential buyers.” After 14 years in the country, we had decided to move to Bristol. Now we were semi-retired, worked from home, and wanted to be closer to city life and late-night jazz venues. Our converted stable, or “characterful period village property in a quiet location” had been on the market for six weeks with scarcely a nibble, and we had set our hearts on a house that we would probably lose if we did not sell soon.When our viewers arrived, we got a surprise: they were the location scout and director for the Channel 4 series Location, Location, Location, a programme we had vaguely heard of but never seen The director, Iain, munched Hula Hoops constantly. They explained the concept: they selected a person or family wanting to buy a home, found five suitable properties, then filmed the buyers looking round, debating the pros and cons and finally deciding which one to go for. The climax was the nail-biting telephone negotiations between the buyers and the vendor’s estate agent. The penny dropped: our house was being auditioned.Iain said our Mr and Mrs Home Buyer worked in Bristol and wanted a country house suitable for their two dogs, one cat and a horse.

We had only one cat but talked about country walks and nearby fields with horses. What was in it for us? A one-in-five chance that we’d sell our house, and a token fee. They seemed impressed with our oak beams and open-plan living room.Katy, the assistant producer, called that evening Yes, they wanted to use our house. It meant filming for about three hours the first time the buyers looked round, with further filming if they wanted a second look She made clear it was best if we left them to it “We’re very clean and careful,” she added. We watched Location, Location, Location the night before filming We wised up a little Our house would be on telly for about five minutes. The world would see Mr and Mrs Home Buyer saying which of our colour schemes they could not live with and which walls they’d knock down.