Joint repairs-What if one leaseholders refuses to pay

Distressed_Homeowner

Hi

Just bought a leasehold flat, we don't pay service charges but all repair costs to the outside and structure of the building are split 50/50 with the other flat.

There is one other flat in the property.

Our neighbours have had some roof work done and discovered some of the tiles covering the party wall need replacing. The cost of this should be split between the 4 flats sharing the party wall which is fine by me.

Because the neighbours have already paid for the scaffold etc, they have asked me to pay my share of fixing the roofing tiles over the party wall. It will involve additional scaffold at the back and the total cost will be around £800 split four ways.

As this work will have to be done at some point it seems sensible to get it done now and avoid the cost of paying for scaffold etc in the future.

However the 4th leaseholder does not want to know and denies any responsibility.

Getting the work done through the freeholder would obviously cost a lot more.

If the other leaseholder refuses to pay, can I do anything?

Or should the three of us bite the bullet and split the bill 3 ways?

The window of opportunity to get the work done is about a week, when the scaffolding will have to go.

Any advice would be appreciated.

BitterAndTwisted

Who is on the top floor, you or the other leaseholder?

The difference between splitting it thrre ways compared to four isn't that substantial, so I'd consider saving the cost of the scaffolding and get it done now.

What recourse you might have against the other leaseholder not paying their share depends on what your lease says. For these sorts of repairs you would need the freeholder's permission, so don't go ahead without their agreement. In writing.

Distressed_Homeowner

The other leaseholder is on the top floor.

The Freeholder is happy for us to go ahead as it is a repair and not structural.

I agree with saving the money, but the neighbours are a bit put out.