Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

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:
Rainbowshit · 13/04/2022 09:37

No don't pay. If you do then you're basically giving them a green light to do the same again. Next time the bill could be £250.

SierpinskiSquare · 13/04/2022 09:42

It's not actually possible to say whether £200 is cheap or not. There are too many variables.

Cailleach1 · 13/04/2022 09:46

You don't like the colour they decided to paint it. You weren't even consulted.

How about having a consultation now. All the flat owners agree on a colour. They everyone gets invoiced for the mutually agreed colour to address the funereal entrance.

alltheteeshirts · 13/04/2022 09:55

Where do you live? (Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, etc.)

Do you own the freehold together or are you only leaseholders?

I wouldn't pay, purely because this sets a bad precedent, but also, depending on your building's circumstances, they might well have done something stupid. For example, as a leaseholder in England, I don't own the front door, and I'd get in hot water if I randomly painted it. The responsibility for that rests with my management company on behalf of the freeholder.

DameHelena · 13/04/2022 09:55

@RomansTheyGoTheHouse

I wouldn't pay. An email back explaining that I had a personal principle of not paying for services/work unless I had agreed to do so beforehand meant I would not be paying for this. If they want to arrange any further work the expect me to contribute towards they should speak to be before going ahead with it.
The OP doesn't need to mention a personal principle. It's sufficient that she wasn't consulted.
longwayoff · 13/04/2022 09:57

Oh bugger them. Ignore the email. If you have a service company responsible for maintenance, the service company is quite likely to return the door to its original colour and bill you all for that. Don't engage with them at all.

DameHelena · 13/04/2022 09:57

@burnoutbabe

Doesn't matter if there was. Everyone in the building needs to be consulted on anything that impacts/potentially costs them all.

not strictly true, our 28 flats all own a share of the freehold and we appointed a management company to manage the day to day side of the maintanence, we have 2 directors from the flat owners to agree to most maintenance.

Items costing over (i think) £200 per flat do need letters to us all to lay out the costs/ask people to suggest alternative suppliers.

This sounds like it could be Scotland though? as they do leases differently there. Though i do know a few masonettes in England that are 2 flats and both have a share of freehold so organise stuff informally (but even then there is a clear lease and its clear the Freeholder should get building insurance)

This isn't the case for the OP though ,is it, with only 8 flats.
BlueOverYellow · 13/04/2022 10:03

It wasn't agreed in advance.
It wasn't necessary.
Hard no.

SushiShopSearch · 13/04/2022 10:06

The new "investors" have painted the doors off their own back. Their choice. I'd only contribute if it had been agreed beforehand. They are very rude to assume you all want to contribute without doing this.

burnoutbabe · 13/04/2022 10:07

This isn't the case for the OP though ,is it, with only 8 flats.

number of flats doesn't matter, if there is a lease there will be rules in there on what consultation is needed for work done - section 20 notices i think is what is needed for major works.

I mean you don't have to get permission from every flat to get small items done. else every lease building couldn't run (many absent landlords etc)

but this block of flats DOES not sound well managed at all, if no one knows how to deal with repairs and who pays buildings insurance.

The solicitors when it was bought MUST have looked into this? how can you get a mortgage if no proof of block building insurance?

sunshinesupermum · 13/04/2022 10:08

Haven't read the whole thread, sorry, not time, but where is the freeholder in this or do you all have a share in the freehold?

Whatever the case, even as a leaseholder, you should be consulted before ANY work is done and see three estimates for it! Don't pay up.

jytdtysrht · 13/04/2022 10:16

I'd email back saying that:

I did not agree to the door painting and am unhappy with the new black colour. Please return to its original colour at your cost. Please do not perform any works to shared areas in future without my consent.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 13/04/2022 10:16

I wouldn't pay.
I would point out the lack of consultation and you now have to look daily at a colour you do not like.
Seriously though its bats having 8 flats jointly responsible for up keep and no sinking fund! Who insures the building? Have you got evidence that it is insured at least?

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 13/04/2022 10:16

I had a look at the deeds and there is no mention of leasehold or freehold but it says in order for maintenance the majority of the flats should be in agreement then the work can carry out and the rest are obligated to pay.

I'm also in Scotland

OP posts:
Trixiefirecracker · 13/04/2022 10:17

I wouldn’t pay because a) they’ve gone about it the wrong way. They should have approached you first with a quote and ask you to agree that and b) I’d be worried they’d just keep doing it and expecting, from past actions, that you would be fine with it. What if they totally overhauled the communal areas and presented you with a much bigger bill?! Definitely write and say no and why it’s not the correct way to go about repairs/improvements.

Original poster
eggfairy1 · 13/04/2022 10:19

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

OP posts:
Trixiefirecracker · 13/04/2022 10:21

It doesn’t matter if it’s freehold or not, it matters that they have totally gone about it the wrong way and it should be agreed beforehand.

ASundayWellSpent · 13/04/2022 10:21

Start as you mean to go on. If they wanted the payment sharing they needed to get the OK before the work was done not after. You can be assertive without being confrontational. Just say no

Sswhinesthebest · 13/04/2022 10:23

No building insurance? What happens if there is a fire?

You can’t rebuild one flat mid air!

WeAreTheHeroes · 13/04/2022 10:24

If someone chooses to take it upon themselves to do work on a communal area then if they haven't consulted those affected they should just pay for it themselves. They clearly want to ensure their investment doesn't look shabby. They are in the wrong for not consulting the other flat owners before going ahead.

NameChangeCity123 · 13/04/2022 10:25

@eggfairy1

I had a look at the deeds and there is no mention of leasehold or freehold but it says in order for maintenance the majority of the flats should be in agreement then the work can carry out and the rest are obligated to pay.

I'm also in Scotland

Think this is standard. I live in a block of 4 and it's always been one flat who say no to everything getting done but you only need a majority for works to be carried out.

I would make a point of not paying or they will think they can just arrange to have whatever they like done in future and everyone will just chip in to cover it

Notanotherwindow · 13/04/2022 10:25

Technically painting a door isn't maintenance, it's cosmetic improvements. The door wasn't faulty because the paint was shabby, it still did the job perfectly fine.

If they had replaced the door due to a crack or draughts or it not fitting correctly etc that would be different. Paint is just aesthetic.

I'd reply saying that if they want to make changes to the decor, all other residents should be consulted beforehand and agree on a colour and financial contribution. As they did not do so, you will not be paying anything towards it nor will you be contributing to any other works where the correct process has not been followed.

Gazelda · 13/04/2022 10:26

@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

I'm in England, so things might be very different in Scotland. But I'd be alarmed that there seems to be no buildings insurance. What if the closer slipped on the stairs? Who books the cleaner and pays them? And who is responsible for arranging essential maintenance works such as roof, exterior paintwork, repairs to stairways, etc?
Who arranges for the paperwork to be organised relating to the new property owners leasehold?
SoupDragon · 13/04/2022 10:28

Paint is just aesthetic.

It protects the wood.

Strictlyfanoftenyears · 13/04/2022 10:32

No building insurance....................................................?