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I need to do plumbing work in my leasehold flat- freeholder v. unhelpful
Mokka
Posts: 412 Forumite
We are refurbishing our leasehold flat and the work has been dragging on for months now due to the freeholder being extremely uncooperative. (The freeholder is our local council and their duties are performed by an ALMO- and yes, we have done all the usual, time consuming rounds of going to the local councillor, MP etc).
The most recent problem is that we need to remove and cap some water pipes. There is no stopcock for these particular pipes so plumbers tell me the water in the block will have to be turned off. I suggested freezing the pipes, but they seem very wary, and said that freezing does not always work, so there is a risk of flooding.
What are my options now?
Is there any way to make the freeholder allow us to switch off the water?
Should I say that stagnant water in these pipes can breed bacteria, which can contaminate water in the building?
If the freeholder refuses can I break into the plant room and switch the water off myself? (or rather ask a plumber to do this)
Are there any building regs or laws that I could quote?
Any help would be appreciated
The most recent problem is that we need to remove and cap some water pipes. There is no stopcock for these particular pipes so plumbers tell me the water in the block will have to be turned off. I suggested freezing the pipes, but they seem very wary, and said that freezing does not always work, so there is a risk of flooding.
What are my options now?
Is there any way to make the freeholder allow us to switch off the water?
Should I say that stagnant water in these pipes can breed bacteria, which can contaminate water in the building?
If the freeholder refuses can I break into the plant room and switch the water off myself? (or rather ask a plumber to do this)
Are there any building regs or laws that I could quote?
Any help would be appreciated
0
Comments
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Apart from the "breaking in" problem, what are the risks of just doing it? The water will probably be back on before the freeholder is even aware, never mind able to do anything about it.0
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There is no stopcock for your flat? Really...? I find that VERY surprising.
But, no, you cannot force the freeholder - nor can you forcibly turn every flat's water off yourself. This is work that you're choosing to do.0 -
Apart from the "breaking in" problem, what are the risks of just doing it? The water will probably be back on before the freeholder is even aware, never mind able to do anything about it.
That's exactly my line of thinking. I don't even need to physically break in, as the door opens easily.
I could warn other residents about water being switched of for 30 minutes.0 -
If you're going down that line, can I suggest that the best use of that time is to simply install a single stopcock for the entire flat?That's exactly my line of thinking. I don't even need to physically break in, as the door opens easily.
I could warn other residents about water being switched of for 30 minutes.0 -
Would you be better to attack it from a different angle and ask freeholder to install a stopcock?0
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I never said I have no stopcock in my flat- in fact I have 2, which every plumber finds very surprising.There is no stopcock for your flat? Really...? I find that VERY surprising.
This particular pipe is above both stopcocks- which is also surprising to everyone who's seen our plumbing. Comments we get that the block's plumbing is extremely unusual- and it keeps being tinkered with. So water is being switched off in the block now and then to have various works done. In the past the water just kept disappearing from the pipes- every few weeks. Thankfully this seem to have been resolved. But as the result people are quite used to coping without water for a few hours a day. There is always some water in the flat, as drinking water can be switched off separately.
Other flats had the same work done, and water had to be switched off too.
I don't believe we are just allowed to leave these pipes with stagnant water in them- sooner or later something infectious will start to breed in there.
That's irrespective of the fact that it is our own flat and we should allowed to live in there in comfort, and to do improvements without putting other residents' property at risk.0 -
If the neighbours are happy and you already have access then I see little risk in just going and doing it.
Though it is odd you don't have your own stopcock. This may be a chance to fit one.
If you do go switching off the block's supply you need to be confident there's nothing downstream of it that will have issues if the supply is interrupted (e.g. if you have communal hot water perhaps running the system dry could be a bad idea unless it's also switched off first).0 -
If this is a pipe IN your flat, relevant ONLY to your flat, then your flat's stopcock will turn the water to it off. If you have a stopcock, rather than simply some internal stop valves...That's irrespective of the fact that it is our own flat and we should allowed to live in there in comfort, and to do improvements without putting other residents' property at risk.0 -
Would you be better to attack it from a different angle and ask freeholder to install a stopcock?
If we were to ask to install another stopcock, what legal arguments could we use? (bear in mind that our freeholder is resistant to logic and unhelpful on purpose, so we need to quote something).
Another issue is that I don't need another stopcock- this pipe needs to be removed and capped off.
No pipe= no need for stopcock No 3.
Can we ask the freeholder to cap this pipe? Yes, we can and they'll say no- it's our flat and our pipes.0 -
A stopcock is ONE SINGLE VALVE that cuts the entire water supply off to your entire property.Another issue is that I don't need another stopcock- this pipe needs to be removed and capped off.
You do not have one.
You have stopvalves which cut part of the water supply off within your internal plumbing.0
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