Smoke alarms

Grandmasu

I don't know if any one maybe able to help with this query. I own a leasehold flat and in October our smoke alarms were updated. It was assumed that this was ongoing maintenance and servicing.

We have now all received a bill for this work and do not understand why this has not been paid from the sinking fund or from the amount that we pay monthly for services.

My understanding is that the managing agent should pay for this as it is mandatory in the rented sector for landlords to have to supply and fit alarms

Our managing agent disputes this and I would be grateful if anyone could give me some facts that I can use to argue a case

Thanks in anticipation

anselld

It is mandatory for a Landlord to supply alarms in a rental property.
You are an owner/occupier; That is completely different.

Any works done by the management Company are done on behalf of the owners (Leaseholders) so you will pay one way or another. It doesnt really matter if it is from sinking fund, service charge or a one-off charge.

westv

I can sympathise with the OP. If you pay a service charge you don't expect to then have to pay extra one off items. The sinking fund should be used. If you start adding on additional costs (ie additional to the normal monthly, annual or whatever fee) where would you draw the line?

anselld

westv wrote: »

The sinking fund should be used. If you start adding on additional costs (ie additional to the normal monthly, annual or whatever fee) where would you draw the line?

Not really. Sinking fund tends to be for major works. Service charge is for routine activities, window cleaning, grass cutting, clearing gutters, etc, etc. This is probably neither major nor routine.

Kynthia

Sinking fund is for major expenses that would be too expensive for the leaseholders to pay in one go. You don't want to have this used up with minor expenses. Whether it is charged to you through the service charge or via a seperate invoice doesn't make a difference as your still paying it. All works are paid for by the leaseholders so you need to understand what tge works were, why they were needed, and if they weren't essential who agreed for them to be done.

westv

Then the alarms should come under maintenance if they are being renewed.
Yes, it all ends up costing the same but it could be important if you are an owner budgeting for a certain cost each year.

depressed_but_determined

The fire service fit smoke detectors for free! I'd tell them to do one.

Mallotum_X

depressed_but_determined wrote: »

The fire service fit smoke detectors for free! I'd tell them to do one.

These will most likely be hard wired and all linked, rather than a £3 battery powered one. Not the type of alarm the brigade gives away.

Grandmasu

Hello, thanks for the replies. I realise we pay for everything anyway, but am disconcerted about having a bill for nearly£100 that I have not budgeted for. The first any of us new about this charge was when we received a bill this morning.

I certainly was under the impression that we would not get unexpected one off bills when everything else is budgeted for and comes out of our monthly charges.

Mallotum you are right they are hard wired through to an emergency care line for which we pay a monthly fee.

asus1987

as a leaseholder if i remember correctly, freeholders can charge up to £200 or £250 per flat for works without giving notice,
unsure how many times etc etc

hazyjo

Grandmasu wrote: »

Hello, thanks for the replies. I realise we pay for everything anyway, but am disconcerted about having a bill for nearly£100 that I have not budgeted for. The first any of us new about this charge was when we received a bill this morning.

I certainly was under the impression that we would not get unexpected one off bills when everything else is budgeted for and comes out of our monthly charges.

Mallotum you are right they are hard wired through to an emergency care line for which we pay a monthly fee.

But they can only guess at that - occasionally an additional expense will crop up. We all have unforeseen costs we haven't budgeted for, and sometimes they're like buses and three things will go at once (just like my bloomin' oven that's gone kaput).


Jx