freeholder

thecrazy1_2

i live in a victorian house in the 1980's we had to sell the basement, the new owner then become the leaseolder since then she has let the property out and there has been several tenants the last ones contacted enviromental health to complain about the damp problem it seems there is water running down the walls and rising damp in the front, that has spread halfway up the wall.
does anyone the rights of the freeholder and how i can make the agent carry out the work to rectify the problem he is most likly to patch it up and shove a new tenant in.
i am woried about my own property suffering from problems.

any help appreciated

Doozergirl

Read the lease the was created when downstairs was sold off.

How was it agreed that essential work should be carried out, how it should be paid for etc. They, or you, will almost certainly have the obligation to keep the structure in good nick. A very bad damp problem is not ;good nick' so you should follow the terms of that lease to get it rectified. It has nothing to do with the agents - it your leaseholder you need to be speaking with.

thecrazy1_2

i think i am responsible for 2/3 of the repairs but does this still apply if the leaseholder has neglected to keep her property in good order also do you know if i should have had a new lease when someone else buys the property or does the original get passed on

thanks

Doozergirl

The original lease stands.

Presumably if you are responsible for 2/3 of the cost then you also have responsibility for organising the work (this is what I'm getting at - do you have the power yourself to get things rectified - I think you do)

I would look at the lease and then call the leasehold advisory service to see what you can do. If you organise the work and send them their share of the bill, there are strict procedures you need to follow first s with to consultation which the LAS will be able to help you with, hopefully. There is some info regarding major works on the website as well. http://www.lease-advice.org/s20frame.htm

telephone number on their website. www.lease-advice.org You will need the lease because they are all different.

If the property is affected by rising damp it is likely to be your responsibility as well as you leaseholder's, in the same way that they would be also have responsibilty for the roof.