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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:
readsalotgirl63 · 14/04/2022 19:37

Actually in the Home Report it asks if there is a factor and how much the monthly charges are. If OP still has a copy it might be useful to have a look there

Tigertigertigertiger · 14/04/2022 19:44

They should have asked in advance but I do think you should pay.

I’d email them all and say please discuss any future communal expenses in advance.

Roxy69 · 14/04/2022 19:44

I have this as I am in a block of 4 flats. The others do this all the time, do things then ask.me to cough up a fourth. Apart from the costs, some of which are small, I am now starting to say I am never going to pay for anything I haven't been consulted about or agreed to upfront as I'm fed up with their disregard for me. Also I am looking to move asap or sooner.

AdoraBell · 14/04/2022 19:44

YANBU

Haven’t RTFT, OP point out the fact that the LL didn’t organise the door being painted, and agreed the tenants paying for it, say -No, you will not pay. End of.

ruthgordon123 · 14/04/2022 19:46

Hi. I presume if it's a flat it's a leasehold. That would mean your neighbours would have to ask the landlord's permission to paint the door never mind rent the flat out. In any case just refuse...they're not going to go to court for 25 quid.

Serialbreeder · 14/04/2022 19:49

Ridiculous. Sounds like they’re not the sort of people you’d want to be friends with anyway, so sod it, tell them where to stick it.

thecurtainsofdestiny · 14/04/2022 19:50

I definitely wouldn't pay as it sets a precedent that anyone can get work done and demand others in the close to pay for it.

I've lived in flats with a factor and also where the close has had a self factoring arrangement, where people get together and decide together what gets done. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach.

Have never lived in a flat where one neighbour unilaterally decides to get work done and everyone just pays without question. Would really strongly discourage that becoming a pattern!

Olsi109 · 14/04/2022 19:52

Hmmm tough one since it says in your actual contract that if majority agree then the rest are obligated to pay. My response would probably be

"Thanks for the email. On this occasion I will forward the £25 however going forward, any work you wish to carry out and ask for contributions towards could you please provide us with quotes and consult us beforehand."

Keeps the relationship civil, let's them know (in writing) that you should have been consulted and expect to be going forward. If they then don't you've grounds to refuse to contribute.

NaTTate · 14/04/2022 19:59

If you pay it this time then it will set a precedent for them to do it again in the future. And they almost certainly will, if no one objects now.

Even if it feels awkward to do so, you need to set boundaries now, otherwise it is going to happen again - and it's quite likely that more money will be involved next time.

I agree with the suggestions to email them stating that if work is needed in the communal areas (or if one flat owner deems that work is needed in the communal areas) all other owners must agree to the works in advance. Quotes must be obtained and costs agreed, in advance. That's just normal in a shared building - and stating it is entirely reasonable.

If you do decide to pay it this time, in order to protect yourself in the future -
ask to see the invoice
ask whether other quotes were obtained
& make it clear that this is a one off and that you won't be paying for any work they decide to do in the future if it hasn't been consulted and agreed with all flat owners in advance.

pinkpantherpink · 14/04/2022 20:03

Should definitely have consulted first. How rude. Don't pay

bluebellsparkles · 14/04/2022 20:23

I would pay but make it clear that they should have asked you before going ahead and in future you will only pay for repairs etc that have been agreed in advance.

NurseBernard · 14/04/2022 20:28

Ask to see the invoice and the comparable quotes they had.

Make your decision, based on the reasonableness of the price, after that.

If you do agree to pay some or all of it, say that you’re doing it as a gesture of goodwill, but in the future, you will only contribute if the cost is shared and agreed ahead of time.

You can do all of this in a perfectly polite, friendly, non-confrontational way.

Remember - you are not the one in the wrong here. CF neighbour is.

WiddlinDiddling · 14/04/2022 20:29

Whether you pay or not... you MUST respond and make it clear that in future, works undertaken without prior consultation and agreement will NOT be paid for by you.

If you do nothing, or if you pay up and say nothing, the next bill that lands might be a share of 5K for painting communal areas and re-carpeting them, something it sounds like you cannot afford and that would stress you out massively.

You don't have to be rude about it!

'Dear X,

On this occasion I will contribute/will not contribute. In future:

  • All works must be proposed in writing to all residents.
  • Three quotes must be provided.
  • All residents need to agree.
  • Sufficient notice must be given for residents to consider proposals and to source funds.

Obviously in case of emergency works, these do not apply.

Regards

Flat 3'

There is nothing there that is unreasonable, nothing your neighbours could reasonably be pissy about, and the owner of the new rental flat is NOT your friend.

If you leave things as is... the current relationship between you and new owner of flat is 'they can do what they like and make eggfairy pay' - so you need to alter that asap!

BBCONEANDTWO · 14/04/2022 20:30

So what if you decide to replace the front door - could you then ask everyone else to pay a share of it.

Chuck2015 · 14/04/2022 20:36

Is there not a management company this should have been approved through? Either way the etiquette for this is to get 3 quotes and then run this past the other residents/owners. I’d be wary of paying as they may see it as a nod to them
doing future work without checking. They can’t do the work and then ask for monies, it’s just not how it works. I know this from experience as someone tried to do similar to me (with a much bigger bill) and I got legal advice

thedefinitionofmadness · 14/04/2022 20:39

Someone's going to have to put their head above the parapet and say 1. no, process wasn't followed to agree it, and 2. £200 for a front door paint job is £150 too much.

Perhaps you need a meeting for the close to discuss how to deal with that in future?

bake56 · 14/04/2022 20:41

I wouldn't pay

NurseBernard · 14/04/2022 20:41

Obviously in case of emergency works, these do not apply.

Great post from WiddlinDiddling, but I would not say that ^

Instead, I’d say ‘Obviously, in the case of emergency work, there may need to be some flexibility to these terms’.

Otherwise, everything will just be an ‘emergency’.

Mesoavocado · 14/04/2022 20:43

Scotland doesn't really have leasehold so are freehold.

I'm very surprised you don't have a factor for your flats?

CrowAndArrow · 14/04/2022 20:50

'I picked up a twig from the front garden / pathway that will be £25 each please'.

Heronwatcher · 14/04/2022 20:50

No way! What you need is mock passive aggressive niceness here. Welcome them to the building. Tell them that you assume that you must have missed the email they sent to everyone before the work was done, which would obviously have been necessary to get everyone’s consent for the work to take place and agree the cost, but if they could forward it on you will be happy to look into it. You could even say that the costs seem high but you assume they compared favourably to the others they got. Copy everyone in who lives there if you can. Do not pay this under any circumstances- the cost seems extortionate.

laalaaland · 14/04/2022 21:03

@WiddlinDiddling response is perfect. I'd go with that, whichever way you decide.

SickOfCrazy80 · 14/04/2022 21:09

I agree with everyone else. Hell no. You would not be unreasonable to not pay it. I’m not being funny but who do they think they are? They didn’t even consult you regarding the fact that they were painting it, also in a colour you don’t like. I’ve known landlords like them, which they aren’t as you have said that the flat is already up for rent, who think they can do what they want, sod everybody else, do what they want and you have to stand up for yourself.
Set a precedent. That you won’t have the mickey taken out of you for one. And £200 for a painted door? What a joke.
They don’t own ask the flats, just one. So tell them no. You aren’t being unreasonable, they are.

Aaaabbbcccc · 14/04/2022 21:12

You benefit from the improvement so I would pay but with a clear caveat that you will not contribute to any other costs incurred on communal spaces unless it is discussed and agreed in advance. No need to be weird about it.

Aaaabbbcccc · 14/04/2022 21:13

£200 for painting a door is entirely reasonable if has been done properly (stripped back, properly prepared, primed and two coats for paint). That is what it costs.