Is this a shared repair cost?

Bogof_Babe

I know that if a block of flats (or in this case a conversion) needs roof repairs or replacement it generally falls upon all the flat owners in the building to share the cost, even if they occupy unaffected properties.

I understand the basement flat in the building where I own an upper floor flat is suffering a problem with damp. I am worried in case this too is a cost that has to be shared between all six owners.

We all pay £25 a month maintenance charges so maybe it would come out of that? However if it is a serious problem I doubt there would be enough in the kitty to cover it.

Would basement damp be seen as the responsibility of all owners in the building, or just the owners of that particular flat?

As a further thought, if one of the higher up flats developed a damp/mould problem on an external wall, I've always presumed that would be the flat owner's problem, as it can be attributed to their own lack of ventilation etc., so if this is correct then presumably the same would apply to a basement property?

We are all leaseholders but I don't remember seeing anything about damp in the lease.

phill99

The flat owner needs to establish what is causing the damp before you start discussing costs.

If it is rising or penetrating damp then this is a result off the failure of the building fabric in some way such as a breached / failed DPC or a blocked gutter etc.

If the 'damp' in the flat is just black mould then it is likely to be (as you suggest) caused by the occupants lifestle eg not ventialting after using the bath/shower, drying clothes all over the house etc.

If you have an agreement that you all contribute to external maintenance, then it turns out that the damp is caused by say a breached DPC, then its right that you shouls all pay for it from your maintenance fund. If the 'damp' is just back mould caused by condensation as a result of lifetyle, then its down to the flat owner to deal with.

vaio

It won't be the first time this has come up and will be covered in your lease (either explicitly or implicitly)

My guess is that the exterior shell of the building box plus inner common areas is what your maintenance fund should cover

Tr1pp

phill99 wrote: »

If you have an agreement that you all contribute to external maintenance, then it turns out that the damp is caused by say a breached DPC, then its right that you shouls all pay for it from your maintenance fund. If the 'damp' is just back mould caused by condensation as a result of lifetyle, then its down to the flat owner to deal with.

^This....its only fair