Air conditioning consent issue for flat

mark7144

I just fully purchased a top floor flat in East London from a well known Housing Association. There's a lot of window exposure so it's going to be very hot in the summer.

I requested permission to install an air conditioning unit which requires a tiny hole (3/8") through the outer wall. The external unit is fine because it will be hidden but they say the hole is not allowed because it goes through the "external fabric of the block".

Do they have the right to prevent such a reasonable request? Is there a process I should be doing that doesn't involve them?

What's the punishment for installing it without consent? I have to consider doing this and removing it before selling.

G_M

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Sorry! It always makes me :rotfl:when people claim 'human rights' when being stopped from doing something.

Actually the whole human rights thing has gone mad. The concept originated post World War two in response to Nazi atrocities - not quite what you are experiencing!

Have you read your lease? The HA has not only the right, but the duty to enforce the terms of your lease. Similarly they have NO right to enforce or prohibit something that is not in the lease.

so read your lease?

edit: I see you've now removed the reference to the infringement to your human rights... :T

Southend1

I smell a troll!

mark7144

I know it's an exaggeration but I just feel quite upset that for the sake of a 3/8" hole, I'm expected to live in a green house in the summer.

claire16c

Could you just buy a standalone air con unit from somewhere like homebase? that doesnt require a hole?

mark7144

claire16c wrote: »

Could you just buy a standalone air con unit from somewhere like homebase? that doesnt require a hole?

Those are directional targeted units. So not only are they not very good at cooling down a room, they are big, require a large tube out the window, very expensive to run, and noisy with vibrations that can be heard through the floor. It's really something you want to avoid if you can.

jjlandlord

This is London we're talking about, so any 'very hot' situation can be dealt wearing short sleeves, or even (sounds crazy) opening the windows to create air flow.

As for the hole, why not just go through a window?

mark7144

jjlandlord wrote: »

This is London we're talking about, so any 'very hot' situation can be dealt wearing short sleeves, or even (sounds crazy) opening the windows to create air flow.

I've lived in London all my life and on the surface understand what you're saying but as someone who has once lived on a top floor flat before as a tenant, I assure you it can often get unbearable. I would then envy my parents who had a house that felt like winter in comparison. Anyway, I was fortunate enough to have AC in that rented place so all was well.

jjlandlord wrote: »

As for the hole, why not just go through a window?

As in drill through a window? This is fixed AC so the small tube would also have to be positioned permanently.

jjlandlord

mark7144 wrote: »

I've lived in London all my life and if you're at the top with a lot of window exposure, it can be unbearable.

Oh come on! 80% of mankind is now actually laughing at you.

Advice is in my previous post.

mark7144

jjlandlord wrote: »

Oh come on! 80% of mankind is now actually laughing at you..

The ones that have not been in that situation, yes. With significant window exposure, on top of being where the heat rises whilst also being absorbed from the roof, you can be reaching 40c.

claire16c

jjlandlord wrote: »

This is London we're talking about, so any 'very hot' situation can be dealt wearing short sleeves, or even (sounds crazy) opening the windows to create air flow.

As for the hole, why not just go through a window?

It was 28c in my bedroom even when I had the windows open the other week when it was really hot, I could definitely have done with some air-con! And I dont even live in a top floor flat in central London.

My neighbours have a ceiling fan which works pretty well as an alternative.