What % of building insurance and repair costs should I pay with smallest leasehold?

[Jmawatts1]

Hi All

I have always paid less building insurance and repair costs because my flat is smaller - the previous landlord did it by square footage. Unfortunately, it just says 'fair and reasonable' in the lease and we have a new landlord who is insisting I pay 25%. Who is right? Thanks.

Unfortunately the landlord can do what they want to a certain extent with woolly legal terms like that. I would assume there are 4 flats based on the percentage you are asked to pay

Thank you. The freeholder owns two flats and then there is me and one other owner-occupiers (leaseholds). I dont know if that makes a difference....

In our 6 flat block it's equal amongst the 6, despite us being a 1 bed and the 2 downstairs being a 2 bed, 2 bath. I'd be more affected if the roof fell in, or equally affected if it burnt to the ground so I think it's fair enough.

I don’t think someone can just change the terms on which the calculations are done. That isn’t the basis on which you bought your flat. I would seek legal advice. I own several leaseholds and the contributions are all based on the size of the flat.

It will be stipulated in your lease. It’s usually set out as percentages of the total.

Read your lease!

i have done - it just says 'fair and reasonable'

If it's fair and reasonable it needs to be so - square footage is reasonable as are things like but making ground floor owners pay for lifts. If it's been square footage before and has been changed in a way which objectively looks unfair, I'd be tempted to object. service charges are pretty tightly regulated now so it would be worth doing some internet research and see if you can find anything useful you can say. Am guessing it's not professionally managed as I do it regulated managing agents would allow landlords to make an arbitrary change.

.... meant to say NOT making ground floor owners pay for lifts.

How long have you lived there? I would have expected your Conveyancing solicitors to have found this information out at the time of purchase?