Leasehold
Your staircase flies over the neighbour's hall and you could not see their ceiling. What support for those treads was not inspected from their side?
The support for those treads was not inspected from the neighbour's side at all. Your staircase flies over their hall, and you could not see their ceiling, so the hangers, joists or wall bearings on that side were not in view. The survey can describe the stair from your side: treads, strings, and what the soffit shows in your own house. It has not seen how the flight is carried where it crosses their hall.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
A flying freehold means part of your building occupies space over theirs, or the reverse. The structure in that overlap needs to be looked at from both rooms if both rooms matter. Their ceiling is the underside of your flight, or the floor that carries it, and it was not seen. Cracks, stains or a propped ceiling on their side would change the picture. None of that is in the report. The unseen ceiling is a limit of inspection, not a title finding.
Ask the solicitor how the flying freehold is documented, and ask whether access to the neighbour's hall can be arranged if the support must be seen. Do not tell a lender the stair was checked both sides. It was not. Condition from your landing is only half the overlap. The report should stay honest about the ceiling that stayed shut.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- What support for the flying treads could you see only from my side?
- What of the neighbour's ceiling was not inspected?
- Are you leaving the flying-freehold title to the solicitor?
What are the typical next steps?
- Treat the neighbour's side of the stair as not inspected.
- Ask the solicitor how the flying freehold is documented.
- Do not claim the support was seen from both rooms.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
If my own treads feel firm, has their ceiling been cleared?
No. Firm treads are what you feel on your side. Their ceiling was not seen, so the support from that side was not inspected and has not been cleared. A solid feel underfoot is not a view of their hall. The limit remains until someone looks from their room.
Can the survey grant the flying freehold because the stair exists?
No. The stair existing is why there is something to inspect. It does not grant the flying freehold and it does not show the neighbour's ceiling. The solicitor and the plan deal with the title. The survey deals with what was visible, which stopped at your side of the flight.