Leasehold repairs when other occupiers are council tennants

Mortgage_Moog

I bought a flat 6 months ago which is in a small block of four flats. I was told when buying that the other flats were all privately owned but I've now found out that isn't the case and the people surrounding me are all council tenants.

I'm wondering what would happen regarding repair bills in this situation? I was told that if any repairs need doing to my roof then the bill gets split between all 4 of us as we all live in the same block. Seeing as I'm the only owner, would the council pay the rest of the bill? Would it all just all be my expense as I'm the only owner?

I've had the place up for sale despite not living here long and I've been offered way over what I paid on several occasions so if I need to get out I could. Any advice would be very much appreciated :-D

csnann

It is possible that the flats are privately owned and let to the council. Did you buy it as an ex-council property? Either way, I think you would only be charged 1 quarter of the cost of repairs, but there is no obligation for a freeholder to pick the lowest quote for work done.

davidmcn

Mortgage_Moog wrote: »

I was told that if any repairs need doing to my roof then the bill gets split between all 4 of us as we all live in the same block.

Told by whom? Your solicitor? Sounds what I'd expect anyway ("split among all the flats", really, only payable by the occupier if they're an owner-occupier).

G_M

If the other flats are council owned, then probobly you would pay 1/4 of the cost and the council would pay the other 3/4s.

However the answer will be in your lease which of course you read before buying.......

agrinnall

Who is the freeholder? If it's the council, which seems possible from what you describe, you may face very high bills in the future, there are many horror stories of the charges levied on private leaseholders by councils going ahead with massive works and there's nothing you can do to stop it as they hold the majority of the cards.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Repairs to a block such as this are generally apportioned via rateable value. Each flat (including those with council tenants) have a rateable value. You'll pay according to that - the council's tenant's share is technically paid via their rent.

However, this is dependant on what your lease says so you need to read it (indeed should have read it before you purchased).

Mortgage_Moog

I did read the lease thoroughly before buying and it says that repairs are split between the people living in the block. I just thought that all the others were privately owned as I was told that by the agents when viewing. I did try and find out if it was correct but I couldn't find anyway of doing so other than noticing none of the other flats had sold in the last 15 years according to property sale sites.

Mortgage_Moog

G_M wrote: »

If the other flats are council owned, then probobly you would pay 1/4 of the cost and the council would pay the other 3/4s.

However the answer will be in your lease which of course you read before buying.......

I did read about this before buying. It simply says that I'm responsible for anything inside the flat and the council are responsible for anything outside. It doesn't say who pays though, just that they are responsible for doing the repairs. It says

"When any major work has been completed you will get an invoice for your share of the actual costs the council paid for carrying out this work.".

As for what my share is, it says

"The council calculates how much it costs in total to provide a service or amenity to your
block or estate and then divides this cost into individual contributions to be paid by tenants and leaseholders."

What I don't understand is how tenants are supposed to be able to afford being hit with a big bill. If you're in council housing you clearly don't have a lot of money and I've never heard of tenants being hit with repair bills but maybe that's what happens.

It does say that for anything over £800 you have the right to pay it back over 3 years.

ThemeOne

The cost of major works is supposed to be included in the tenants' rent, so they don't get landed with big bills.

If it's a block of only 4 flats, you're less likely to get huge bills in the future as there's simply less to maintain in a smaller building e.g. no lifts. But you could still be liable for projects such as window or roof replacement though your solicitor should have warned you if any major works were imminent.

davidmcn

Mortgage_Moog wrote: »

"The council calculates how much it costs in total to provide a service or amenity to your
block or estate and then divides this cost into individual contributions to be paid by tenants and leaseholders."

What I don't understand is how tenants are supposed to be able to afford being hit with a big bill.

Not all "services or amenities" are repair costs.

Norman_Castle

Mortgage_Moog wrote: »

What I don't understand is how tenants are supposed to be able to afford being hit with a big bill.

The bill is paid by the owner of the flat and not the tenant.