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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:
LoudingVoice · 12/04/2022 23:26

What’s the normal procedure for updates to communal areas?

Like others have said I’d say no on the basis you should have a process for agreeing between the flats how any work is done/paid for/agreed?

Is there a management company? Did they consult anyone at all before doing the painting?

Don’t pay but clarify all this kind of information with them before they start doing all sorts of other unnecessary/unwanted/expensive updates

Aquamarine1029 · 12/04/2022 23:26

"I was not consulted, I did not approve this work to be done, and I'm not paying."

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 12/04/2022 23:28

Ignore it. What’s the worst they could do when they’re letting the flat?

LoudingVoice · 12/04/2022 23:28

[quote eggfairy1]@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[/quote]
Only just seen this - I think you need an agreement in place asap between all the flats then, or thus could keep happening & it could be more expensive next time.

whynotwhatknot · 12/04/2022 23:31

who pays for maintenance then

they had no right to do it then come after money

NoSquirrels · 12/04/2022 23:33

You need a management committee, then. You need sinking funds in case there are large repairs needed.

NarcissasMumintheDoghouse · 12/04/2022 23:34

P. S. if they operate this flat as a buy-to-let, as you indicate, then they can claim the cost of painting the door against their profit when doing their tax return.

Do you see how that might work?

They improve the communal areas, get you all to reimburse them, but then claim the costs against their buy-to-let business profit.

If you let this incident slide, next they'll be re-carpeting the stairs, landscaping the gardens, replacing the fences.... improving their property at the expense of you and your other neighbours, while claiming tax relief on the cost.

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 23:36

@LoudingVoice you're right we do need an agreement

Although really in these old flat buildings the only thing we have to worry about is the roof and other leaks. The hallway is small and although shabby it's fine. We each contribute for a stair cleaner anyway which i'm happy to do.

OP posts:
TheArtfulBlogger · 12/04/2022 23:36

Dear CFs,
As soon as you show me the contract I signed agreeing to the painting been done, the agreed colour and attach copies of the 3 quotes for the work I will forward the funds.
Flat X

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 12/04/2022 23:37

@NarcissasMumintheDoghouse I had no idea. I'm not close with any of the other home owners but I expect that not all will pay and then they won't be so keen to do communal improvements

OP posts:
EmmaH2022 · 12/04/2022 23:39

Don’t pay. CFs.

NoSquirrels · 12/04/2022 23:39

in these old flat buildings the only thing we have to worry about is the roof and other leaks.

And that can cost a shit-ton! Ask me how I know Sad

Do you have communal buildings insurance?

Aphantasia · 12/04/2022 23:40

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….)

WhatsTheEffingPoint · 12/04/2022 23:40

I would be pissed off my personal email had been passed on...data protection and all that! If they wanted to contact you they could have knocked the door or put a note in your postbox. £200 with no proof of an invoice or quotes that's pricey.

Comefromaway · 12/04/2022 23:41

@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.
It might not be much to you but to someone like my daughter that’s a weeks food budget.
negomi90 · 12/04/2022 23:43

Absolutely no way you should pay. But if you want to be petty a formal complaint to the management company in charge of the communal areas would not be inappropriate.

Cocomarine · 12/04/2022 23:44

You don’t need a relationship with them - they don’t even live there!

  • ignore it
  • politely say, “I won’t be contributing to works not subject to advance consultation and agreement.”
  • impolitely say, “are you bloody joking? I’m not paying for something I didn’t agree to, and it was rude of you to do it.”

Whichever floats your boat!

SaltedCaramelIcedLatte · 12/04/2022 23:44

Ignore them!

GrettaGreen · 12/04/2022 23:46

Absolutely do not pay this! £200 this time to paint the door. £2000 next time to replace the fence or similar and they will be justified as that's how you did it the last time.

TabithaTittlemouse · 12/04/2022 23:49

Just say that this isn’t how things work there.

Also I agree with @NarcissasMumintheDoghouse don’t let this slide because it’s probably the start of many requests for various ‘improvements’.

ScribblingPixie · 12/04/2022 23:51

Well, who do you pay the service charge to? Do you have a landlord/freeholder? Or is your flat freehold?

Chloemol · 12/04/2022 23:53

No wouldn’t be doing that
Polite message back saying sorry I wasn’t consulted and don’t like the colour so I won’t be contributing

I assume there is a management company ? I would direct them there

NorthSouthcatlady · 12/04/2022 23:56

No. I thought the logical thing to do would be discuss it first? Not just decide on the colour, get it done and then hit people for the money afterwards

HelloBunny · 12/04/2022 23:57

Wouldn’t worry about the relationship with them. The place will be rented out. Nice folk might move in!

Fulmine · 12/04/2022 23:57

The hallway is small and although shabby it's fine

New neighbour will definitely be repainting that next. Probably cost minimum £2K.