Retirement flat: can Management company charge for granting 'permission' for bathroom refit?

[copycat]

Before her recent death, my Mum owned her own flat in a block of retirement flats and my sister and I are in the process of getting the flat ready fro resale or rent. We wish to refit the bathroom and the House Manager has told us that we need written permission from the Management Company Peverel. I have been sent a permission form to complete and have been advised that there is a charge for obtaining permission. I am ... errr a little unimpressed!

I have tried to wade through the lease and have found the clause that says that permission for work is required but there is no mention of a charge being levied. It is not a huge amount of money but I am incensed that I need to pay someone to give me permission to redecorate 'my' flat and instal a new bathroom (no structural changes). Am I throwing my toys around for no reason? Does anyone know if this kind of charge is normal?

Yes your landlord can charge a reasonable sum (in relation to the bathroom refit, not if it was just decoration), yes it is normal.

Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.

Thank you MrV. As a matter of interest, why can they charge to give me permission for replacing a bathroom suite but not for redecoration? Apparently I still have to apply for permission to repaint the apartment. Rhetorical question really - don't worry about wasting your time replying to my ramblings. Thanks again.

I am not sure this has come up here before, so I will answer in case anyone else is looking in.

Refitting the bathroom could involve a number of changes which could have an adverse effect on the landlord or other leaseholders, for instance

1. A shower must be adequately ventilated otherwise it could cause condensation which could damage the fabric of the building

1. If you fit a power shower to an unvented system it could cause a drop in water pressure so that your neighbours do not get an adequate supply

1. An incorrectly specified or fitted instantaneous water heater could cause a fire risk which may affect the landlord's insurance

and so on

Internal redecoration has no such risks and although IANAL I imagine it would be difficult to enforce a requirement for landlord's consent for this. That won't stop some managing agents from trying it on though.

Maybe too late but... the leasehold housing advice information and mediation service of Ageconcern is here

... not too late thank you mumonthenet and thanks again MrV.