Communal Maintenance or Lack of

[BeachTree]

Anyone have any experience or wisdom of communally owned areas in a block of flats.

Block of 6 flats, all owner occupied except for one which is rented out (absent landlord, however they have a Very difficult person dealing with their affairs ) Each flat has a 1/6 share of repair and maintenance detailed in the title deeds, for maintenance/repair of communal items in the building such as roof, gutters, chimneys etc etc and also some communally owned pieces of ground.

Each flat has a private garden plus there is communally owned ground including a shared parking area, paths around the building and up the middle of the gardens, some flower beds, and 3 separate bits of ground made up of grass and a WHOLE lot of HUGE weeds, rosebay willow herb which is literally about the height of me, and I spent all summer pulling them out the ground. Plus there is an old brick outhouse which back in the day was and still kind of is a toilet block (it's a very old block of flats)

Other than myself and one other flat out of the 6, nobody ever discusses or proposes maintenance or repairs to either the building nor all of the communal ground. It's really very untidy and needs a good amount of effort or else pay a gardener to maintain the parking area, and communal grounds area. There are old brick toilets are literally going to fall down before anybody actually agrees to do something about the state of them. The windows are smashed and long gone, the wooden roof is very rotten, and rots more and more each time it rains, they are a health and safety issue frankly and absolutely covered in ivy - nature is taking it back.

How can I get neighbour buy-in? When they all appear blind and completely ignorant to their responsibilities. I can only ask so many times. It's so frustrating. When I suggest it to them I get a few nods and smiles, or blank stares. Nobody is willing to agree nor be proactive. You can't just live in a building and never carry out routine maintenance? It's an old building. I am worried for when I come to sell. Sorry this post is so long, would be great to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position. Thanks

Depends on what needs doing but get three quotes for everything and get people to sign a contract that they'll pay 1/6th of repairs / maintenance. Agree which quote and book it in.
Or set up a meeting with owners / can be online to discuss issues like a residents association where a treasurer's account is opened and an annual amount is paid in to cover ongoing issues. It's a total pain. Especially when people refuse to acknowledge things need done.

A residents association would be wonderful, but unfortunately unlikely.

I don't understand the reluctance to maintain something you own part of, surely it's in the best interests of us all to upkeep the building and grounds, especially thinking ahead to a time the any one of us wants to sell us - all of these issues will be highlighted by a surveyor. Madness. I have a full time job already without becoming the project manager for the building and having to chase people up for responses and money constantly!

Can you frame the request in such a way to say that if unless the work is carried out imminently that it will have a detrimental impact on the value of their property?

I have already tried. For example the old toilet block that is literally rotting in the garden and is dirty and disgusting; needs all owners consent to knock down - I spoke to the particularly difficult lady mentioned and explained that the run down, and dangerous state of it would be highlighted by a surveyor and likely have some effect on the flat's values if we came to sell and also has an effect on any future potential buyers. Not to mention we all have to look at it every day.

She scoffed and basically told me I was talking rubbish. I did ask if I had her her consent on behalf of the landlord and her answer was 'probably' I just want it to be a nice place to Iive, why are neighbours so difficult.