ex-council: hot water/heating included

ziof3ster

Hi,

I'm interested in a flat to buy, ex council, that has got hot water and heating included. The flat has got a tank for the water too.

Do you know if the leasoholder has got rights to disconnect from this service and have his own boiler? How this will affect the service charge?

Thanks
Zio

blckbrd

Disconnection is sometimes allowed, sometimes not. Some councils won't entertain the notion full stop.

Others may allow it depending on where the property is on the system or the floor the property is on. Not quite sure what the former term means so maybe ensure a specific question is asked if you proceed to the management info pack stage.

Also check when the boiler is due for renewal; repairs history etc. Some leaseholders pay throught the nose for communal heating/hot water that frequently breaks down and is hard to repair as parts become obsolete.

Oh and the heating is usually off from March to August because allegedly the weather's warm!

In terms of service charges/costs, if you are allowed to disconnect, you would certainly need a licence for alterations to install a gas boiler because tou would need to put a hole in the structure for the flue and subsequently a deev of variation. The council website may have details of its fee structure. You would not normally be charged for the provision of the service after that.

poppysarah

Might still mean you pay for communal repairs for it...
And what you going to replace it with?

ziof3ster

Going to replace it with my own boiler, plus remove the water tank.

That's the idea.

Thanks
Zio

vivster

A good friend of mine owns a flat in a council block which had a communual heating and hot water supply. She was hugely dissatisfied with it as the system didn't work well and was incredibly noisy, I think. They wouldn't let her just install her own boiler though. It was kind of an all or nothing approach, and the council said individual boilers would conflict with their environmental policy.

Anyway, long story short, the leaseholders and tenants joined together to lobby the council for individual boilers in their flats, solicitors were involved and everything, and they won and the work has now been done. They were helped by the fact the the flats in the adjacent blocks had already been converted though. It was just that my friend's block was to be done last and the policy changed before the work started.

The whole thing went on for two or three years and was incredibly stressful for my friend. She's happy with the outcome now, but with hindsight, I'm not sure she'd have bought that flat.

ziof3ster

Thanks vivster, very helpful story.

Do you know which council it was?

Thanks
Zio

vivster

Islington.

I do also have friends who are leaseholders in another council block, and in another inner London authority (Westminster) who are more than happy with their communal system. I think they like not having to worry about the responsibility of their own boiler, and any problems are always dealt with efficiently.

ziof3ster

Hi Vivster,

this flat is in inner London too, Brick Lane (aldgate), Tower Hamlets council.

To be honest I dont have problem with the communal heating/hot water system, but the service chare is pretty high (£1800) considering is a very small block, no lift etc, so was thinking to add flexibility and reduce Service charge (but just evaluating the options).

something a bit more annoying is the water tank, as in central london the space is so costly and waste a full built cupboard for a tank of water (flat is on ground floor) is a shame.

The property, is bought, will be a buy to let.

Thanks
Gio

vivster

My mate had to keep her tank as the water pressure wasn't good enough for a combi, but then she's in a large, mansion-block style place and not on the ground floor.

You'll just have to approach the council, I guess. Good luck.

blckbrd

had a quick look for you OP. Tower Hamlets don't allow disconnection from the communal system. Info here - 2nd page.

ziof3ster

thanks blckbrd.... fortunately the guide says "may not"....will ring them and ask.