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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:

MrsJackRackham · 13/04/2022 12:40

www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2013/03/common-repair-common-sense-guide-to-managing-tenements/documents/common-repair-common-sense-short-guide-management-tenements-scotland-pdf/common-repair-common-sense-short-guide-management-tenements-scotland-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/Common%2BRepair%252C%2BCommon%2BSense%2B-%2Ba%2Bshort%2Bguide%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bmanagement%2Bof%2Btenements%2Bin%2BScotland.pdf Also a good source of info. I'm in a 4 in a block tenement, we don't have a factor and arrange any communal work between us depending on what needs done. I'm lucky though as we're all reasonable people. All works get at least 3 quotes and a vote.

JauntyJinty · 13/04/2022 12:42

@SoupDragon

you weren't consulted, wouldn't have agreed to black if you were and won't be paying

It's irrelevant whether she would have agreed to black. Everyone else might have done in which case it would have been black. The only thing that is relevant is the lack of consultation.

In this case I think it's worth mentioning as people in the other flats might be thinking the same - it wasn't put to the vote so we can't know unless people speak up

CantGetDecentNickname · 13/04/2022 12:45

As a PP put:

I'd do as many others have said and reply that you weren't consulted, wouldn't have agreed to black if you were and won't be paying. Any changes need to be done with the knowledge and consent of all occupiers. Also, I have not given my consent for my personal email address to be given out to others. How did you obtain this address?

If the pushy/bossy person is happy to pay, that is up to them - they have no right to try to force others. Surely their email to the others in the block urging them to pay up is some kind of harassment? Don't worry about having a nice relationship with the new people; they don't sound as if they care to have one with you and they're not going to be living there. If they want a good relationship, they should start by apologising for trying to extort money from others!

steff13 · 13/04/2022 12:52

Really? You’d drive there, clean two doors properly , sand them both down, clean again, and then paint them with good quality exterior paint, likely with at least two coats, for twenty quid?

We don't know she did all that. The OP probably would have noticed them taking the doors off, etc. For all we know they slapped some paint on over the existing paint.

Collaborate · 13/04/2022 13:50

Just reply to say that under the lease any works need to be agreed in advance and you will not be paying for works that one owner decides to do without seeking proper approval.

WhenDovesFly · 13/04/2022 13:54

Personally I'd reply to the sender with three points, using wording that other PPs have suggested. Make sure you bcc all other recipients:

If they are operating their flat as a buy-to-let, then they can claim the cost of painting the door against their profit when doing their tax return.
Any changes need to be done with the knowledge and consent of all occupiers, quotes obtained and costs agreed by all parties BEFORE any work commences.
You do not appreciate your personal email address being shared without your permission.

Finish up by saying as you have not been consulted and did not agree to the works then you will not be contributing.

Don't let them get away with this OP. As others have said, if you go along with this then they'll be making other changes and asking you to contribute.

timeisnotaline · 13/04/2022 13:58

Given all the other potential works a pushy owner might kick off, this is a hill I would die on. It’s an excellent hill really, £25 isn’t a huge amount, so if learning they have to consult other owners only costs them several lots of £25 then they are getting a very cheap very useful lesson, and you don’t have to have your war over something big. As you will need to have your war, or be miserable in your flat.

SoupDragon · 13/04/2022 15:12

Scuse me, I'm sure, for including a little detail

Er... I didn't quote you so I'm not sure why you're getting arsey

maddy68 · 13/04/2022 15:20

How do communal costs get paid?

I'm mine we pay a management fee per year which pays for that.

We have a "president" who organises the quotes etc. And we have yearly meetings to work out what needs doing

knowinglesseveryday · 13/04/2022 15:21

Say no. It reminds me of the people who rented next door to me, then immediately (within a couple of days) knocked on my door to say that they had seen my cat crap on their (unmown) lawn They hadn't even introduced themselves. Nice to meet you too! 😄

DameHelena · 13/04/2022 15:54

@SoupDragon

Scuse me, I'm sure, for including a little detail

Er... I didn't quote you so I'm not sure why you're getting arsey

Apologies,Soup, was reading/replying in a hurry and for some reason thought it was me who'd said that! [eejit] (I did make the same point, though, in different words, and I do think it's relevant; as Jaunty points out, it might mean people in the other flats will be encouraged to speak up).

Zonder · 13/04/2022 16:00

Can you reply and say that future work must be discussed by all of you not just arbitrarily done by one owner?

Cailleach1 · 13/04/2022 16:32

Also, they painted the front door off their own bat, probably in order to spruce it up to attract a tenant. They painted a door (which is owned by others as well) for their own benefit. Bad enough if they tried to say it was a gift to the other owners; they still had no right without agreement. However, doing that and then sending a bill to the other seven owners is the height of cheek!

For the other owners, there is no oversight on the specifications or standard of work on communal property if someone fires ahead without consultation and approval.

Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:34

@maddy68

How do communal costs get paid? I'm mine we pay a management fee per year which pays for that. We have a "president" who organises the quotes etc. And we have yearly meetings to work out what needs doing

Seems there’s no such structure Buildings insurance hasn’t even been paid for by the sounds of it according to the op

Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:35

The op doesn’t know whether she’s a freeholder or a leaseholder

Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:37

I suspect we don’t have the full picture at all
The OP doesn’t have the full picture!

Cailleach1 · 13/04/2022 16:54

@Heythere13

The op doesn’t know whether she’s a freeholder or a leaseholder

I thought it was established upthread that they don't apply as the op is in Scotland.

Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:55

But the OP didn’t know that!

Cailleach1 · 13/04/2022 16:57

Op, I wonder if Cheeky and Overbearing decided on the job and the colour. Overbearing being a good sergeant at arms for Cheeky and not letting on they are back footing the rest of you owners.

Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 17:00

@Cailleach1

Op, I wonder if Cheeky and Overbearing decided on the job and the colour. Overbearing being a good sergeant at arms for Cheeky and not letting on they are back footing the rest of you owners.

Possibly

Out of desperation for some kind of structure and work to a large old building (I live in one so I know!) to be done beyond communal clean.

Isittimeformynapyet · 13/04/2022 17:34

@Aphantasia

Is there a management company? You need to nip this behaviour in the big bow otherwise deck knows what you’ll get bullled for next!

Email back saying no. You weren’t consulted on the door being painted, you weren’t provided with quotes for the work and you weren’t consulted on the choice of colour. That’s not how shared responsibility works abs if they proceed to make any more decision that affect the shared space without consulting the other owners then you’ll be looking the legalities if the situation. Also if you do have a management company cc then into the communication.

(Then paint the door hot pink and billy them 200 quid….)

I think I agree with you 100% Aphantasia. But your typos did make me laugh

buckeejit · 13/04/2022 21:40

Respond to all

Thank you for your email.

I was not consulted on this matter & so gave no prior agreement to these works. I will not be paying towards anything that does not follow the proper process. Consultation needs to happen prior to work being completed.

Welcome to the neighbourhood new person. I hope you'll have many happy years here

Regards

Sswhinesthebest · 14/04/2022 09:18

@BuanoKubiamVej

Reply back "Where work is necessary, agreed in advance with appropriate competitive quotes obtained, and where decisions like e.g. colour are open to discussion with all affected residents, then obviously it is reasonable for all the flat owners to contribute. In this case you unilaterally decided to do the work without obtaining consent in advance from your neighbours and it is not at all appropriate to demand payment retrospectively. In future if you feel work needs doing please arrange a consultation. I will not contribute to work that takes place without an opportunity to participate in the decisions."

I like this.

Kennykenkencat · 14/04/2022 11:41

@BoredZelda

I'm also in Scotland

All residential property in Scotland is freehold. We don’t have leasehold in property here. You either rent a property or buy it outright.

How does that work with flats, who owns the ground they are built on, who is responsible for insuring the building or maintenance and repairs or can any one come in, do work and charge what they like.

thesnailandthewhale · 14/04/2022 12:23

Dear New Neighbour,

Thank you for your email. I'm glad you sent it as I now have your email address too :) I would like to bill you £50 towards the spa day I needed to book to recover from the stress of our front door being painted black.

Happy New Home x

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