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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:
ListeningButNotHearing · 14/04/2022 18:50

I wouldn't pay either.

Very rude of them not to have consulted you about getting it done in the first place and colour choice.
I find with people like this if you give them an inch they'll take a mile.
I expect I am a lot older than you and quite hard-nosed now.

NancyPickford · 14/04/2022 18:50

OP is in Scotland. "When buying a residential property in Scotland, there is no freehold and leasehold distinction. Generally, what you buy in Scotland is 100% yours and you can say everything is 'freehold' in Scotland."

CambsAlways · 14/04/2022 18:51

They would be told to take a running jump!

alreadytaken · 14/04/2022 18:57

You dont have a relationship with them yet, do you really want the sort of relationship where they do what they like and expect you to pay?

You could reply Please explain why you did not consult me in advance if you wished me to make a contribution to the cost.

cherish123 · 14/04/2022 18:57

£200 is a lot for painting a door- even if it's F and B. However, it's not a massive amount for them to pay themselves if they really wanted the door painted.
Personally, I'd ignore the email. If they email back, just say you weren't asked about the painting and you won't be contributing. My guess is they won't email again. They are just trying to see if they can get some money to pay for the job.

ExcaliburBaby · 14/04/2022 18:58

I’d ignore the email!! They need to learn that this sort of expense should be agreed in advance otherwise they will just do it again and it might be even more money next time!

readsalotgirl63 · 14/04/2022 18:59

@BoredZelda thats not the case. Factors have long been a feature of Glasgow tenement life !

fussyhousewife · 14/04/2022 19:01

Bit rude - surely the way to go about that would have been to consult all the occupants of the block. Never mind if the overbearing neighbour decides to pay you cannot be made to pay for something you did not agree to therefore I would ignore it.

ToCaden · 14/04/2022 19:03

I also vote not paying. Not sure how it works in Scotland, but in England flat residents would need to be informed of work and why needed, and shown several quotes were sought, etc. Basically to stop someone employing their mate Bob to paint communal areas for five times the usual rate and billing everyone. Non essential works like painting a functional door would also need to be agreed to / could be disputed as not needed.

Ashleybear7 · 14/04/2022 19:03

So… they want you guys to contribute to the door they painted WITHOUT asking everyone first? Hell no. Don’t pay them. They should have thought about that before they decided to just be doing stuff.

Ddot · 14/04/2022 19:04

Ask for copy of invoice, call company for a quote on a similar job bet its family and bumped up price

OurChristmasMiracle · 14/04/2022 19:06

I would have to email back “please could you provide the quotes prior to the work and the invoice for the works please as well as the minutes and/of proof of agreement for payment to be made in regards to these maintenance works”

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 14/04/2022 19:14

See if your local authority has a Shared Repair service. They should be able to advise, but in my experience this type of work should be agreed by all the owners beforehand and quotes should be obtained as part of that. I absolutely would not be paying, especially as they won't be living there. (Also in Scotland.)

PlainJaneEyre · 14/04/2022 19:14

[quote eggfairy1]@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[/quote]
So who handles things like your buildings insurance, upkeep etc ? It is a couple of the neighbours?

WindsweptNotInteresting · 14/04/2022 19:14

Personally I wouldn't be inclined to pay, but if you do end up paying to keep the peace, I would definitely reply all to that email and say that you will pay on this occasion, but in the future, you will only consider paying IF there has been consultation with ALL of the owners and all have agreed to costs and materials so as to avoid this sort of thing in the future, as it is unfair for one party to make decisions that impact the other owners, but over which they have no decision making.

Cheeky lot!

PlainJaneEyre · 14/04/2022 19:15

@eggfairy1

I'm not paying and service charge at the moment other than a stairwell cleaner.

Does this mean it's free hold?

Theres no service company and likely no building insurance although my individual flat is insured

No building insurance? OMG ! You must have a factor.
everythingcrossed · 14/04/2022 19:17

There is a compromise to be had whereby you ask for invoices etc and, if they are able to produce them, you pay your £25 with the proviso that you will not be contributing to any further works without agreement in advance. I don't think £200 is that much to paint two doors if they used a professional, the door needed sanding/scraping down/filling and they paid for the paint.

Plantstrees · 14/04/2022 19:21

I have not read the whole thread but you do need to check your legal position. Scotland is different to England so lots of advice you are getting on here wont apply. This is a good summary: scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_and_maintenance_in_common_areas/responsibility_for_repairs_and_maintenance_in_common_areas

MzHz · 14/04/2022 19:22

Tell them that as they took the decision to paint the door an awful colour without involving any of the other flats that they can bear the cost of it too.

Start as you mean to go on, they have no right to dictate anything and much less what you contribute too.

Bellringer · 14/04/2022 19:25

Don't be wet, look at the legal situation, not what your mum thinks.

Tigger1895 · 14/04/2022 19:26

I’d be concerned about how they got your email address. Is it not against the law to provide personal information without your consent?
I would refuse to pay based on the fact there was no consultation in relation to painting the door and it sounds like a slippery slope to further demands.

BoredZelda · 14/04/2022 19:29

thats not the case. Factors have long been a feature of Glasgow tenement life

I've lived in dozens of tenement flats all over Scotland over 40 years. Never had a factor.

mangipops · 14/04/2022 19:30

This might be of interest. A main entrance door should be something the landlord deals with - the paint originally used may be a form of fire protection and the new paint may not? The landlord, or his appointed agent is responsible for communal issues. Does your block have a tenant management organisation - either way sounds like you need to look into all of this. I would not pay up just because a leaseholder decided to paint the door - all leaseholders should have been consulted about this beforehand. kaganmoss.co.uk/uncategorised/leasehold-property-frequently-asked-questions/

Peppapigforlife · 14/04/2022 19:33

I definitely wouldn't especially as the reason they're doing it is to attract a tenant and earn money. It's a business investment. Don't be pulled into them trying to make their business investment cheaper for them.

readsalotgirl63 · 14/04/2022 19:35

I also have lived in tenements mostly in Glasgow and there has always been a Factor.

However it's really not worth falling out about. Even if there is no factor in the OPs block they should make some arrangements for buildings insurance and communal maintenance.