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Original poster

Cheeky neighbours want me to pay

435 replies

eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 22:55

New neighbours bought a flat in my building. There are eight flats in total in the building.

I haven't met them yet but they're buying for investment and I found it posted online for rent already.

I came home the other day to find the main door to the building had been painted. It was shabby before and could do with a coat but this was surprising since I hadn't been consulted and it was a shared door. The new colour is black which I was always told was a bad omen. I really didn't like it but didn't want to make a fuss.

They have now emailed us saying they want the flats to equally contribute £25. Lovely to meet you too.

It may not sound like a lot of money but I am really budgeting right now and my weekly budget for fun is £30 and it would have to come from that which is miserable.

I just know if I send them the money I will be bitter about it and anxious that they may expect me to pay in the future without consenting me.

If asked, I would have reluctantly agreed to have it painted just not black.

Is there any way I can get away with not paying and not entirely ruin any relationship with them?

OP posts:
PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn · 12/04/2022 22:57

Equally contribute to what, the door they painted?

  1. that's ridiculous
  2. what's the paint made from, tinted gold dust?
Glamora · 12/04/2022 23:02

Could you ask how many quotes they got?

How they decided on the colour as you seem to have missed that consultation

TwinklyBranch · 12/04/2022 23:02

That's really cheeky of them. They should have got agreement from all the flats before going ahead. I'd email back to point that out, and just say unfortunately you don't have the budget right now. But if you do offer to pay, ask to see a copy of invoice from the painters and any other quotes they got for comparison.
I bet you won't be the only one pissed off at this and refusing/unable to pay.

Smallkeys · 12/04/2022 23:03

No there should be no hard feelings if you weren’t consulted and therefore didn’t see any quotes much less agree to the job and the cost then they really shouldn’t be expecting anything. If anyone does pay it that should be looked upon as a bonus...

Keepitonthedownlow · 12/04/2022 23:06

As them if they got any quotes for the work. £200 for door painting seems quite a lot.

Viviennemary · 12/04/2022 23:06

They were out of order painting the communal door without asking and quite cheeky to then charge. But it isn't much. I would just pay it this time but say in future these jobs need to be discussed first.

Intheinterestsoffairness · 12/04/2022 23:08

I'd email back and say that work in cummunal areas isn't managed in this way. If they want work done, all other owners must agree to the works in advance and costs agreed, also in advance. As this didn't happen, there's no liability to pay.

Tbh whether you can afford it or not is neither here nor there, and I wouldn't mention it - they can't retrospectively expect you to pay without prior agreement and that's all that matters.

Noname99 · 12/04/2022 23:10

Of course you don’t pay! Just email them saying that to save any difficulties in future any communal word need to agree up front including quotes. Do you not have a management company?

SMabbutt · 12/04/2022 23:10

8 flats paying £25 each is £200 to paint a door. No way would I spend £200 to have someone paint a door when I could do it myself for a fraction of that. They should have consulted the other flat owners first. Could you speak to your neighbours and try to agree a common response. You could perhaps agree to contribute towards the cost of the paint based on an average brand such as Wickes or B&Q if you wanted to be accommodating but don't be pushed in to paying for something you didn't agree to.

NoSquirrels · 12/04/2022 23:12

Email back and say that’s not how communal improvements or maintenance works. Point them to however it does work in your block.

I certainly wouldn’t be paying them £25, cheeky fecks. Nice earner if you can get it, £200 for a coat of paint!

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 23:13

thank you I feel a bit better now

Should I just ignore the email first and see if they come back again? I feel although all your suggestions are reasonable I would feel so anxious sending that response.

It was technically two doors with the main front and then the inner porch door too - it does seem ridiculously expensive.

OP posts:
GinIronic · 12/04/2022 23:14

How do they know your email address?

Saltyquiche · 12/04/2022 23:14

Yes state that work needs to be agreed by residents beforehand and then undertaken. You haven’t budgeted for additional outgoings

PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn · 12/04/2022 23:14

Email back pretending to be Sarah, your PA

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 23:17

@GinIronic all the other neighbours had it so they must have gotten it from one of them

@Noname99 no we don't

I also don't really know the other neighbours but the one I do know is very very overbearing and will probably support the charge

OP posts:
MaggieFS · 12/04/2022 23:19

That's crackers. Who owns the freehold and how is maintenance normally agreed and funded?

Of course they can't just do something without obtaining quotes of agreement from others and expect payment. They are chancing their luck. FWIW I would reply as pp have suggested. Start as you mean to go on. Remove emotion, don't apologise, keep it factual and just say no.

winewolfhowls · 12/04/2022 23:20

Definitely don't pay but also definitely update us because these sound like the kind of people who could entertain us for weeks with their antics.

Mossstitch · 12/04/2022 23:20

Maintenance costs come out of your service charge op! You don't pay just because they want it to look nice for renting. I had this problem once when someone wanted communal hallway carpet changing because they didn't like it (neither did I but I wasn't paying for it because I didn't like the colour, they were told tough it was still functional and not worn out!

worriedatthistime · 12/04/2022 23:20

Are they not leasehold or tun a management company ?
I don't think £200 is that bad for 2 doors which they also may of adjusted etc, had to sand down and supply paint and someone earn a living
Though
But a resident can't just go ahead and expect others to contribute

Electriq · 12/04/2022 23:21

No thank you, I pay a service charge and cyclical payments for such works.

Kind regards

Flat X

BridesmaidPanic · 12/04/2022 23:21

What's the setup with your block? Do you pay service charges? If so, to who?

Service charges would normally cover repairs like that and the lease likely has restrictions on what you can and can't do to your own property, let alone communal areas. Currently they've painted property that they don't own.

Who's to stop another tenant deciding they want the front door bright pink, then demanding £50 from each flat?!

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 23:22

@MaggieFS there has never been any maintenance needed since I've lived here but apparently there have been problems in the past with getting people to pay according to overbearing neighbour. We are all equally responsible for the shared space

OP posts:
Iamnotamermaid · 12/04/2022 23:23

Ignore it. You could even block their address if they continue to ask for the money.

You made no agreement to contribute, neither were you consulted. So you are under zero obligation to pay up.

Also bear in mind this could be the start of a slippery slope if they continue to arrange 'improvements' and expect everyone to contribute. Manage their expectations now.Wink

NarcissasMumintheDoghouse · 12/04/2022 23:24

@Viviennemary

They were out of order painting the communal door without asking and quite cheeky to then charge. But it isn't much. I would just pay it this time but say in future these jobs need to be discussed first.
Absolutely not.

Don't set a precedent.

Email them back telling them no - you never agreed to this "improvement" and that you will not be contributing to any other improvements in future that are not agreed up front and transparently managed.

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 23:25

@Electriq and @worriedatthistime I only pay a service charge for hallway cleaning not for maintenance too

OP posts: