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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:
OldTinHat · 12/04/2022 23:59

If you're in England and the flat is leasehold, then you will have a freeholder. The freeholder is responsible for building insurance and maintenance and you'll pay them a share of that cost each year plus ground rent.

This is assuming you own your flat/leasehold/have a mortgage. If you rent, then check your rental agreement as to whether or not you are responsible for this element or if your landlord deals with it.

If your neighbour isn't the freeholder or maintenance company in accordance with your lease, then they can jog on. If you all own a share of the freehold, again, they can jog on because works will need to be agreed mutually before commencing.

Leasehold flats generally pay a maintenance fee each year to the freeholder. You need to check your lease before paying anything.

Momijin · 13/04/2022 01:46

Should have been agreed beforehand. Cost, colour etc.. don't pay

WelliesWithHeels · 13/04/2022 01:58

Don't even engage with them. Ignore the email.

VodselForDinner · 13/04/2022 01:58

The only response I’d give is “How did you get my personal email address?”

Other than that, I’d ignore them. A randomer asking you for money isn’t a summons. Ignore it, and block their address.

milkyaqua · 13/04/2022 02:13

People who make unilateral decisions are not reasonable. And people who make unilateral decisions and then want to be financially recompensed after the fact are insane!

Chilver · 13/04/2022 02:21

I'd ask how they got your email address (and then take it up with the person who gave it to them).

And with regard to the door painting, definitely need to say something now before you get landed with a bill for more 'improvement' works! I'd say that unfortunately you won't be contributing to any works that you were not consulted on in advance.

Pinkfluff76 · 13/04/2022 02:30

Holy fuck ignore it. Their choice to paint, their cost!! Do NOT pay!!!

GiantHaystacks2021 · 13/04/2022 03:11

No, I wouldn't pay for that.
CFs.

TargusEasting · 13/04/2022 03:13

Advise them a black door is a bad omen and you are getting the flats professionally exorcised for £4,000.

KosherDill · 13/04/2022 03:18

@VodselForDinner

The only response I’d give is “How did you get my personal email address?”

Other than that, I’d ignore them. A randomer asking you for money isn’t a summons. Ignore it, and block their address.

This.

They have zero right to dun you.

expat101 · 13/04/2022 03:28

I received a similar text from a neighbour the other week. They thought they had written an earlier one, which if they did, we didn't receive it.

I replied I knew nothing of what they were talking about and no one had approached us in relation to subject xyz and left it at that. They tried to take the conversation further, but we wouldn't have agreed with the proposal to begin with.

Just nip it in the bud by replying the same.

BottleBrushTree · 13/04/2022 03:39

Yeah they’re going to try and get everyone to pay them for it then claim the entire lot as a tax deduction for their rental since the payment to the painter would be in their name. Sweet.

Tallisimo · 13/04/2022 03:40

Just ignore it. Don’t respond at all. Don’t get drawn into any correspondence.

timeisnotaline · 13/04/2022 03:41

Remember they can write the whole amount off for tax as costs for maintaining an investment property! I’d just say what I thought
‘Hi x,
It’s standard to consult before any works in communal areas. I really don’t like black front doors, if you’d consulted all residents in a normal fashion I would have agreed to chip in for a different colour as I agree the old door was getting shabby. Since we haven’t defined the process for agreeing communal improvements, I will live with the black door rather than insist it be changed to an agreed colour.
Kind regards

TigerLilyTail · 13/04/2022 03:41

I wouldn't ignore the email as it will escalate, but I absolutely wouldn't pay as I suspect it will continue.

I think there must be a system in your paperwork somewhere that explains how this is done, but I would just email back something about how all work in communal areas needs to be approved by all tenants in advance.

MRex · 13/04/2022 03:54

"You have changed a communal area without agreement from others who own it too. Please immediately return the doors to their original colour of blue at your own expense. Next time obtain agreement from other flats to activity and cost before doing any work. Thank you."

AlternativePerspective · 13/04/2022 04:08

£200 to paint a door? Bloody hell I’m clearly in the wrong line of work.

DoYouSeaWhatISea · 13/04/2022 04:10

@MRex

"You have changed a communal area without agreement from others who own it too. Please immediately return the doors to their original colour of blue at your own expense. Next time obtain agreement from other flats to activity and cost before doing any work. Thank you."
Yes, do something like this. If you pay it, next up will be enforced payment for refreshing the shabby lobby.

They’re really trying it on, and with these types, it won’t end unless you put your foot down.

cauliflowersqueeze · 13/04/2022 04:58

I wouldn’t ignore this. Next thing they’ll recarpet the hallway or something.
You need to have some kind of maintenance plan though through a management company- it’s all very well contributing to someone cleaning the hallway but buildings need to be maintained. There must surely be buildings insurance and a freeholder etc?

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/04/2022 05:27

@Aquamarine1029

"I was not consulted, I did not approve this work to be done, and I'm not paying."
For those people saying £200 is expensive for 2 doors. A decorator doing those 2 doors as a stand alone job would charge a lot more than this. They would have to sand, paint, leave the premises. Return after the first coat is dry, sand, paint, leave again. Then return for a third time for the final coat. The price isn’t expensive at all and reflects the fact that the decorator was probably on site the whole time working in the flat.

All of this is a moot point as you didn’t agree to works and don’t like the colour so I would go with what Aquamarine has said. Cheeky buggers doing something to enhance the property for rental then expecting you to pay something they will claim against tax.

You really do need a management committee and sinking fund for any major works as advised above.

FlowerArranger · 13/04/2022 05:42

This is all rather confusing.
I assume these flats are leasehold?
What's stipulated in the lease regarding maintenance?
Who owns the freehold?
Who do you pay your service charges to?
What's covered by the service charges?
Is there a management company?
Or do all the flat owners jointly own the freehold?
If the latter, they should have formed a joint company to deal with maintenance.

£200 for having 2 doors painted is actually very cheap, especially if the door was in poor condition. However, this is irrelevant because the neighbour can't just go ahead with commissioning this without consultation and then expect others to share the cost.

PiperPosey · 13/04/2022 05:43

OP...
It's like you putting a planter in front of the door and asking everyone to pitch in.
Did you ask for the door to be painted? NOPE
It is ludicrous to me that they would do this. The absolute nerve of some people.

If pressed I would just say, "Oh I'm so surprised not only to see the door painted, but also to chip in for the paint. I wished I would have been asked first. It just isn't in my budget nor the color that I would have chosen."

Ikeptgoing · 13/04/2022 05:44

@OldTinHat

If you're in England and the flat is leasehold, then you will have a freeholder. The freeholder is responsible for building insurance and maintenance and you'll pay them a share of that cost each year plus ground rent.

This is assuming you own your flat/leasehold/have a mortgage. If you rent, then check your rental agreement as to whether or not you are responsible for this element or if your landlord deals with it.

If your neighbour isn't the freeholder or maintenance company in accordance with your lease, then they can jog on. If you all own a share of the freehold, again, they can jog on because works will need to be agreed mutually before commencing.

Leasehold flats generally pay a maintenance fee each year to the freeholder. You need to check your lease before paying anything.

This is good advice ^^
Dunnoburt · 13/04/2022 05:45

I'd ignore..... Blush

Starlightstarbright1 · 13/04/2022 05:49

This exactly.. I would be far more concerned what you set yourself up to agreeing too.

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