communal services....who is responsible?

*T.L.C.*

Hello!
Just wondering if anyone could help! I have been renting a property in a converted house for the past 11 months. There are 3 flats in the household the one I rent is owned by a couple who all share the freehold of the house.Basically there has been no lighting in the hallway leading to my top floor flat for a month its pitch black...anyway im wondering whos responsiblity it is to pay for the communal areas? There is nothing in my agreement and I recently recieved an email from my landlord asking me to pay fifty pounds for the hallway electricity key...I didnt even know there was a key...apparently the other freeholder has it. Should I pay or should the landlord pay as its a communal area and he is the freeholder? I know its not much but its more the principle I have never paid anywhere else I have lived...I also handed my notice and am due to move out in 2 weeks anyway.thank you for any help!!!!!:(

*T.L.C.*

btw i live in England

Fire_Fox

Have you formally reported to your landlord that the lights are out? Presumably it is dangerous? If so contact Environmental Health at the local council. Just ignore that e-mail IMO. Is your deposit lodged with one of the three schemes?

Normally the freeholder pays for electricity in the communal areas and charges this to the leaseholder as part of the service charge (or not if the leaseholders and freeholders are all the same person). It's not normally passed onto the tenant other than within the rent, I doubt that is even legal unless perhaps specified in your tenancy agreement. Are the flats all above board, registered for their own council tax etc.?

G_M

You are not responsible for the communal lighting.

Write to the LL, at the address on your tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices", to advise him that the light does not work and is a hazard especially with longer winter nights now starting.

Ask him to remedy the issue as soon as possible.

Don't reply to the email as

a) email is not the way to deal with this and
b) the cost is nothing to do with you so ignore it

*T.L.C.*

thank you so much for your replies..we rented the property through an estate agents but the owner of the flat does the repairs etc in the flat...the other two flats are owned by different people..it is a converted house...im not really too sure who has the freehold but think they all share part of it. I think the house is all above board and assume my deposit is in the scheme as it went through Jacksons Estate agents. Yes it is dangerous I have nearly fallen down the stairs a few times as I start work at 6am its dark! I have asked for it to be fixed thats when he said downstairs paid it last time its our turn now?? thanks guys!

G_M

*T.L.C.* wrote: »

......but the owner of the flat does the repairs etc in the flat...
As advised, WRITE to the LL at the address provided

the other two flats are owned by different people..it is a converted house...im not really too sure who has the freehold
Not really relevant to you, but if you want to know, download the Freehold Title from the Land Registry for £3.

... assume my deposit is in the scheme as it went through Jacksons Estate agents.
That does not follow. Assume nothing. It takes 5 minutes to check each of the 3 schemes online. Do it! Deposits

Yes it is dangerous I have nearly fallen down the stairs a few times as I start work at 6am its dark! I have asked for it to be fixed
In writing? To the correct address....?
thats when he said downstairs paid it last time its our turn now?? thanks guys!

......................................

Fire_Fox

Did you inform the landlord about the lighting in writing? If not do so, and contact Environmental Health about the safety aspect. Don't assume your deposit is in a scheme, check because many letting agents are unqualified and useless. You should have received the prescribed information.
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/tenancy_deposit_protection_schemes/?a=502196

propertyman

I am sorry but the most important point has been missed.

The freeholder is in contact with your landlord over this, clearly the common parts electricity has been cut off and the "money for the Key" is that the supplier has put in a key meter.

I therefore suggest you do reply to your landlord

1: I am not responsible for the cost of communal electricity. The Freeholder is and you may have to contribute to that under the terms of your lease.

2: If the electricity is not reinstated by Monday I will contact the Local Environmental Health Officer . I will be calling them tomorrow to advise them of the situation so that they can take enforcement action on Monday.

I would even slip a copy of the email under the freeholder's door.

Tiddlywinks

*T.L.C.* wrote: »

Basically there has been no lighting in the hallway leading to my top floor flat for a month its pitch black...anyway im wondering whos responsiblity it is to pay for the communal areas? There is nothing in my agreement and I recently recieved an email from my landlord asking me to pay fifty pounds for the hallway electricity key...I didnt even know there was a key...apparently the other freeholder has it. Should I pay or should the landlord pay as its a communal area and he is the freeholder? I know its not much but its more the principle I have never paid anywhere else I have lived...I also handed my notice and am due to move out in 2 weeks anyway.thank you for any help!!!!!:(

So, is the hallway light broken OR is the electricity for the hallway on a meter and the credit has run out?

As you are moving in two weeks, why not use a torch in the interim rather than risking injury?

*T.L.C.* wrote: »

I have asked for it to be fixed thats when he said downstairs paid it last time its our turn now?? thanks guys!

This bit suggests it's a payment thing not a fault - if it were an intermittent fault then the LL would be responsibe.

propertyman

Well taking a turn sounds sensible, sort of , but it is never your turn, it's your landlords.

*T.L.C.*

ok ill do everything as suggested....in writing to the landlord and use a torch for now! thanks everyone i just wasnt sure where i stood on it but now I know I'll sort it out...thanks again