Should I swallow the costs?

Kitten_Pie

Hi All,

Just looking for others opinions and hope this is in the correct place.

Background…. Have a flat which I let out, last year my best friend moved in which helps her save some money and means with her permission I can get things around the flat sorted without too much disruption. At the beginning of last year the drain outside flooded and the then tenant moved out due to the stench. I was not informed of the problem by the estate agent etc so didn’t realise until I went round to spruce the place up. I got the drain unblocked and had the whole flat repainted. The freeholder has ignored all correspondence regarding this.


Recently the render outside started bowing and falling down, I got someone in to take down the part that was bowing so that it didn’t cause a safety issue. I have informed the freeholder but not received any communication back (doesn’t answer phone despite numerous messages) The weekend just gone I got a quote for the rendering and making the garden look nicer as I am going to be renting it out properly again and the concrete is cracked and steps which are dangerous. The quote to spruce it all up came to £1,300 which is great, basic stones put down, with proper lining and taking down the rest of the render and coating it to look nicer without the huge cost of rendering the entire side or the building which was looking at a huge amount of money.


My question is, although I have to ask for the freeholders permission to get the work done, this is fine… do I ask for a contribution to the wall costs. I appreciate that he won’t contribute to the garden as a lot of it is just cosmetic but the wall is also his problem. The quote I have got is for all the work and isn’t broken down as the guy is giving me a discount due to doing the garden at the same time. I am worried that although he will let me do the work he will not pay out for the wall which needs to be done as it is my property that is being harmed and causing the disruption and I don’t want to leave it too long otherwise more problems will arise and I won’t be able to rent it out due to the safety problems in the garden.


Should I just swallow the cost? I have the money saved up and am tempted just to do it to save the hassle and have it looking nice.


Sorry just realised how long this message is, thanks if you have kept reading to the end.:)

dander

Hello, I think you might get more knowledgeable responses about the ins and outs of freeholders and management of flats on the property buying and selling boards.

However, as far as I know the maintenance and upkeep of flats can be the freeholder's responsibility or it can be done through some kind of management company or through the leaseholders, so the answer will depend on exactly what the arrangement is for your particular case. Do you pay a maintenance fee to anyone? How many other flats are there? Also is the garden shared or the private garden for your flat?

Kitten_Pie

Thank-you, I thought it would be better elsewhere but don't know how to move the thread and didn't want to duplicate and clog up the board