Redecoration of communal hallway

jcuurthht

Property Info:
Converted house
Basement flat with separate entrance.
Ground floor flat and First floor flat with communal hallway.

Each flat owner has an equal share in the management company.

We are discussing redecorating the communal hallway. It hasn't been decorated for at least 10 years. Looks very dated and worn.

1. Considering the basement flat doesn't use the hallway, is the redecoration something only the ground and 1st floor flat owners should pay for?

2. How much does a communal hallway affect the flat price/impression of potential buyers?

3. What would be a reasonable amount to spend on such a project?(I realise this is essentially how long is a piece of string).

westernpromise

jcuurthht wrote: »

Property Info:
Converted house
Basement flat with separate entrance.
Ground floor flat and First floor flat with communal hallway.

Each flat owner has an equal share in the management company.

We are discussing redecorating the communal hallway. It hasn't been decorated for at least 10 years. Looks very dated and worn.

1. Considering the basement flat doesn't use the hallway, is the redecoration something only the ground and 1st floor flat owners should pay for?

This should be set out in the lease. I have come across leases where everyone was charged for everything - eg ground-floor dwellers were charged for maintenance of the lifts - but in the house conversion my flat is in, the occupants of the basement don't pay for hallway refurbs for exactly the reason you give. If they had access to the hallway - eg to park bikes or buggies - it would be different, but they don't even have a door key.

One word of caution though. If the owner (current or future) of the basement flat buys the ground floor flat and then merges them to make a maisonette, will he then argue that he should be excused contributing on behalf of either flat, on the grounds that the ground floor flat no longer uses the hallway? If so, that would mean the first floor pays for all of the maintenance of a common part. One to think about perhaps.

2. How much does a communal hallway affect the flat price/impression of potential buyers?

Potentially quite a lot;. It's the first impression and if it's scruffy it suggest it's difficult to get these neighbours to agree to spend any money. That in turn is a red flag if anything else needs doing (eg if the roof leaks the others may decide it's the top floor's problem). So it would tend to put me off.

3. What would be a reasonable amount to spend on such a project?(I realise this is essentially how long is a piece of string).

Well, yes it is. Depends on the size, then on whether you want the old woodchip ripped out, the floor levelled and retiled, the ceiling pulled down and replaced and the whole thing refloored and painted; or if it just wants patching and painting. The former could easily be £4,000 at London prices, the latter maybe £750.

With my flat we used to have a little informal chat around whether we were all in funds to do anything substantial and that's when it would get done - essential when looking at £75k to repaint the outside that had to be split five ways.

hazyjo

Is there anything the basement flat benefits from that the others don't?


Is it really more than just a pot of paint and a paintbrush? Does it need carpeting?


I used to live in a Victorian conversion/shared hallway, just me upstairs and them downstairs. They'd occasionally give it a lick of paint. Didn't usually even mention it to me. Would you all be able to decorate it between you?


As above, check the leases.


Jx

eddddy

Each lease should specify what percentage/fraction each flat contributes to building maintenance costs.

If you think the percentage is unfair in this instance, some flat owners could volunteer to pay more, if they want.

You could even vary the leases to make them more fair, if you want.


But, for example, the basement flat owner bought the flat knowing what it said in the lease about contribution to maintenance costs - and so accepted those terms.

So any "unfairness" in the lease should have been taken into account in the price they paid for the flat.