Who to clean the stain in extrenal brick wall in leasehold flat

CloudCloudCloud

Hi all

I have recently bought a leasehold flat and the external brick wall outside my bathroom has a large (horrible) black/green stains on it (next to and behind the external black pipe). Out of the entire block, the stain is only on my flat (first floor) and the ground floor flat….I am suspecting it was the pipe that caused this stain on the wall.

The stain was there before I bought the flat and I should have raised the issue about it….but I didn’t (silly me!)

So my question now is: who is responsible for cleaning the external brick wall of the flat? Can I get the freeholder/management company to have the stain cleaned? Or do I have to pay for it myself (which would be expensive given I am on the first floor).

Also, the stain is actually not causing any issues on my flat…it just looks bad from the outside…do you think the freeholder/management has the right to refuse cleaning it given it is not causing any harm to the flat at the moment?

Many thanks for your reply.

Much appreciated
Cloud

jee

Freeholder/Management company would clean or paint over that as it's part of the external flat.
To be honest I would think it has probably been there a while and not on the top of their priorities so don't expect them to come back quickly on this.
They may only paint externally every few years and then they will all ask all leasholders to contribute from the service charge or an additional payment.

CloudCloudCloud

should this be part of the service charge I pay to them or would they ask for additional charge on top on my service charge? Many thanks!
Cloud

jee

It would depend on what services are paid for- this is released by the company in their accounts sent to all leaseholders. For example I have a flat where external painting is done every five years- that comes out of service charge.
Emergency works come out of sink fund or they ask leaseholders to contribute extra.
I know the stain bothers you but unless there is structural damage to the building I don't think they would consider the "aesthetic displeasure" enough to paint the wall.
I would ask the neighbours if this has been brought to the attention of the mgt company before.

propertyman

Your lease determines who looks after the exterior, it is rare for lease these days to make it yours.

If this is the rainwater down pipe and not an external waste pipe common on pre 1970's buildings, then the landlord or agent should be asked to check the pipe is not blocked and the leaking joint repaired. If the latter it is urgent.

Left alone further water will penetrate into the wall and cause deterioration and sooner or later find something bridging the cavity, a wall tie, and then the GFF has a damp patch on the wall.

The summer will dry it out and it can be cleaned off- ask the LL or MA to see if they can get a quote and have the budget to do it later in the year.

Or there are plenty of DIY products if you are so inclined, do so safely eg having regard to working at height and the COSHH guidance on any cleaning material, and can scrounge a ladder- it saves money all round.

missile

It is leaseholders responsibility, but it sounds like a cosmetic problem and I doubt you have any chance trying to force them to do it.

If it were me, I would get a jet washer and a ladder.

propertyman

missile wrote: »

It is leaseholders responsibility, but it sounds like a cosmetic problem and I doubt you have any chance trying to force them to do it.

If it were me, I would get a jet washer and a ladder.

But Missile without seeing the lease, on what basis do you say it is their responsibility?

Very few leases make the exterior the responsibility of the flat owner, and in most cases are only found in older leases and on up one downs.

bris

propertyman wrote: »

But Missile without seeing the lease, on what basis do you say it is their responsibility?

Very few leases make the exterior the responsibility of the flat owner, and in most cases are only found in older leases and on up one downs.

Under general wear and tear yes. In this case it sounds very like the bathroom overflow pipe has been leaking for some time, this would make the flat the leak came from liable.
As it's just cosmetic there will be no need for urgency though, so if the op doesn't sort it, it may never get sorted.