help!!! unreasonable management company???

want2beMF

I need some urgent help regarding my management company. I have moved into my new flat (bought not rented) and have now come across a potential issue regarding the management company.

I came back this evening with OH and noticed a "gentle reminder" from the management company posted on the communal noticeboard stating that:

1. NO ANIMALS are allowed in the flats

2. No BBQ are allowed in the flats due to fire/safety hazards etc.. (can't remember what was exactly said)

I am wondering if the management company can post such rules and regulations and if we are compelled to follow them.

I can't quite understand why they would ban animals in flats. Surely that would be the right of the people living in the flats??? I don't currently have a pet but what if we had one, do we have to get rid of it then? :eek: (I am thinking that maybe someone has a pet which is why they posted this notice???)

Also, our flat is on the raised ground floor with an outside terrace/garden. We wanted an outside space for summer parties (bbq etc...) and so we bought this particular flat, giving up better views of others. This was also how the agent pitched it to us and now, after moving in and getting a new garden set and a bbq pit, we are now told that we CANNOT have bbqs??? Is this right??? Maybe for the flats that do not have an outside terrace, it might be a hazard but surely not for us???

Also, no one told us of these "rules" when we moved in and can they now enforce this? Surely, the management company is only in charge of running the place and not to dictate how we are supposed to live our lives. I am just concerned that they will come up with more rules and regulations!!!! :eek: Can anyone please help??

pickles110564

Our first BTL was a leasehold flat with a management company starting with the letters EQ.
They were an absolute nightmare, they would keep hitting us every so often with extra charges. The usual line was that there was a large hole in the accounts do to the extra work that they carried out. It was always for several hundred pounds and you did not have a choice as you had to pay.
They also did not allow pets etc, which I did not mind as it meant the tenants had to behave.
Needlessly to say we never bought any more leasehold properties and sold the flat and reinvested the tidy profit into two one bedroom starter homes.

neverdespairgirl

Have a look at your lease. That's the starting point for any queries about pets etc.

olly300

want2beMF - your solicitor should have drawn your attention to the lease conditions and you should have read it. One of the things about being a money saver is learning how to read the small print so you don't get screwed or have surprises.

And yes freeholders are allowed to state conditions to ensure that people who live in close quarters to each other don't annoy or cause danger to each other.

No pets is normally because there is one or two pet owners who decide a small flat is an ideal place to keep 4 large dogs or a dog that howls/barks all the time. I live in a flat and there are people in other flats who keep pets without the freeholders permission - most of the pets are caged animals, the few dogs are small ones and the only cat I know about is a house cat.

No bbq's is probably because some idiot previously caused some fire damage to the flats.

You can ignore the rules but if you don't get on with one of your neighbours then they can make your life hell.

SquatNow

No BBQ *IN* the flats makes sense.

!!!!!! would anyone have a BBQ *INSIDE* their house???

All the rules are unenforcable anyway. As long as you leave the flat as you found it you can do what they hell you like. Want to repaint and move a few walls? Fine, just put it back how it was before you move out.

The worst the LL can ever do is give you 2 months notice, and they'de be fool to do that and risk a void if you pay on time!

Rabiddog_2

!!!!!! would anyone have a BBQ *INSIDE* their house???

gotta agree with that one.
I live in a Block of flats and yes it has the no pets rule.. But I think its only enforced if its a horse or something larger. Nay,nay you say? Its true!
I have no idea really what the leaseholders can do if you ignore their rules?

PasturesNew

I lived next door, in a house, to people with a BarBQ, which they placed against the adjoining wall.

Every time they fired the thing up I had to close all my windows and doors because of the smoke and smell. Most annoying! Especially as the one room I used/lived in was one overlooking the rear, so closest to the smoke/smell ... and noise of their 20+ beered-up mates.

In a block of flats, BarBQ smoke (and noise) is likely to interfere with every other resident on that side of the building.

But, as others have said, check what your lease says. The leases on flats mostly all have individual and unusual little clauses. I knew of one block once where people weren't allowed a piano.

Doozergirl

If it isn't in the lease, it isn't enforceable. I'd be surprised if there is a BBQ clause :rolleyes: though 'no bird dog' clauses are often present.

They can't just make up their own rules. Faulty electrics, cigarettes, candles, fireplaces are all hazards - you just have to be responsible. They are just being NIMBYs. So many blocks have them. We owned a flat where you'd think the ground floor flat was the headmistress of unruly pupils - she was constantly sending notes or posting them on the front door telling us what we could or couldn't do yet thought it was acceptable to use the landing as an extension of her flat. I'd have loved to have stolen her manky shoe collection. :rotfl:

She even made herself a little "garden" in the communal area down by the garages (some logs, gravel and the most pathetic plant you'll ever see) and take down a little bistro set and sit in her dressing gown where both all of us and all the commuters using the train line at the bottom of the garden could see her acting like she was at Champneys.

I'd get told off, by note, for opening the windows in our flat and the door at the bottom of the stairs to try and get some air through the stagnant stairwell with no opening windows for a little while - couldn't do right for doing wrong. Maybe she was worried that someone else would steal her manky shoes.

You'd have to send a note back because she wouldn't answer the door.

SouthCoast

I would be upset if my neighbours started holding BBQ parties on their balconies.

In reality the biggest problem is parking. Their is only one parking space per unit and occupants tend to have more than one car, which they park in the visitors spaces. Result is no parking for visitors.

want2beMF

Thanks for all your replies.

Had a look at my lease conditions and it does say that no pets are allowed. We are fine with that as we never intended to have a pet as I have animal-phobia. Going by general comments on this thread, this rule seems to be fairly common but we were just wondering what would happen to pple who ever had one. :rolleyes:

However, we are more concerned abt the "no bbq" rule. Yes, I agree that bbq IN a flat is ridiculous and there is no way we would have done that but if you read my original post, I said that we had an OUTSIDE terrace/garden that according to the title deeds we own (i.e. not communal). We intended to have a bbq in this outside space. Maybe I didn't phrase the notice correctly... Went to have a re-read and they said "no bbq's IN THE DEVELOPMENT".

SouthCoast wrote: »

I would be upset if my neighbours started holding BBQ parties on their balconies.

Agree with you on this point and I also don't agree holding bbq on their balconies as there isn't enough space and things can fall over etc.. but as mentioned, this is not a balcony???

PasturesNew wrote: »

I lived next door, in a house, to people with a BarBQ, which they placed against the adjoining wall.

In a block of flats, BarBQ smoke (and noise) is likely to interfere with every other resident on that side of the building.

Ours is a corner unit so that we could put the bbq pit on that corner of the wall so it didn't interfere with anyone. But are you also saying that parties (aka noise) are also not allowed??? We were looking forward to our bbq housewarming party next week and would be gutted if we had to cancel now.

want2beMF

Doozergirl wrote: »

If it isn't in the lease, it isn't enforceable. I'd be surprised if there is a BBQ clause :rolleyes: though 'no bird dog' clauses are often present.

They can't just make up their own rules.

There is no BBQ clause but there is an "all encompassing" clause which states that they can add any rules/regulations that they want. Does this mean that they can just make up their own rules as and when they fancy???