problem with downstairs flat's landlord...

tostaky

We live and own the 1st floor flat and an estate agent rent the ground floor flat.
Two years ago, we did the roof, split the costs 50-50% as per leasehold/freehold.

Now, the last tenants went up the roof to put a satellite and broke some tiles. The cables run to the ground floor flat. The tenants have now gone.
the landlord does not want to pay and he has written to the previous tenants to make them pay.
Until they do (if they do), then it will rain in my flat...

what can I do???

BitterAndTwisted

The issue of the downstairs landlord chasing the previous tenants for the damage they have done, or their contractors have done, is not your concern.

Repairs need to be carried out as a matter of urgency if rain is coming in and damaging your property. I would get a few quotes and have the work done and then send the bill to the landlord. He can either claim it on his insurance or not as he sees fit. Replacing broken tiles isn't usually a hugely expensive job, depending on how the contractors can gain access. If it was only going to be a few hundred pounds I'd consider just paying it myself rather than risk suffering any consequential damage to my own property.

tostaky

yes it is only £50 + vat
But the roof guy, wont do the job if he is not being paid.

i dont mind paying it myself but that open the doors to many problems...

I actually suspect the LL/estate agent of not paying now because he believes im going to pay...

he is the kind of LL who want me to pay to extend the lease (lease is 62 years left on both flat)... he tries to get as much money as poss and if I start paying for something that is not mine, then i will end up paying lots of things.....

Any legal recourses to threaten him so he will pick up the bill???

note im not too worried about the rain in my roof, it is only a couple of tiles missing and there is some kind of fabric that prevent the rain to go straight in my loft.

poppysarah

An estate agent? He lives there? Do you know where he works? Go and see him on a busy day at work.

tostaky

the LL is an esteate agent and he rents that flat to a couple.
Why do you suggest me to go and see him? I called him this morning...

System

Am I missing something here. I do not see why the LL (as the ground floor flats LL)is involved.

Yes they were his tenants but they have caused damage outside of what he was renting to them. Your case is against the ex-tenants for payment for repair.

As the freeholder for the block then he should be dealing with it under the building insurance.

janealb

You are going to receive the money from the landlord. You don't have to wait for him to run after the money, because as you said they might not pay. In case they don't then the landlord wouldn still have to pay you. So there is no need for you to wait. Whether he will get the money or not afterwards , that concerns him and not you

BitterAndTwisted

Get the work done and pay the contractor his £50 plus VAT.

Send a letter with a copy of the contractor's invoice to the agent asking for the landlord to reimburse you.

I would most certainly not risk consequential damage to my own home for the sake of a mere fifty quid. What on earth are you thinking?