Water shutoff valves - plumber callout fees

Gn93

davidmcn wrote: »

Though I presume "free" would just mean "added to the service charge account and you all end up paying for it"?

That is much more palatable than the status quo.

sal_III

I didn't say you bought such property, it's evident from your OP that the change happened while you were already an owner. But sooner or later you and everyone else is likely to want to sell - who is going to buy under these circumstances. My rationale is that this decision by the Freeholder has definitely had a significant impact on the value of your property, question is how legal is it in this circumstances.

One way or another as long as someone other than yourself is doing the valve reset its going to cost you. Currently it's "free" during working hours but it still consumes time of the concierge. If you don't already have a 24h concierge and you demand that ManCo handles the valve resets, they will be happy to oblige and slap the cost onto the service charge. You will still end up paying for it, even worse - you will end up paying for everyone else's resets.

Gn93

sal_III wrote: »

I didn't say you bought such property, it's evident from your OP that the change happened while you were already an owner. But sooner or later you and everyone else is likely to want to sell - who is going to buy under these circumstances. My rationale is that this decision by the Freeholder has definitely had a significant impact on the value of your property, question is how legal is it in this circumstances.

One way or another as long as someone other than yourself is doing the valve reset its going to cost you. Currently it's "free" during working hours but it still consumes time of the concierge. If you don't already have a 24h concierge and you demand that ManCo handles the valve resets, they will be happy to oblige and slap the cost onto the service charge. You will still end up paying for it, even worse - you will end up paying for everyone else's resets.

Well unfortunately you've hit the nail on the head. Despite being disgruntled about this I have been looking to sell up for a while. Problem is I'm waiting on a few things to fall into place and may be ~6 months until I'm ready to market this flat. If I were a more patient man I might just wait it out and hope the property hasnt been too devalued, but after two weekends of flushing my toilet with a bucket my patience has waned.

pinkteapot

Being cynical though... People will sell these flats without mentioning this water setup to prospective buyers. I can't think of a question on the Property Information Form that would make you disclose it, and I don't think anyone would think to have their solicitor as the question, 'How long can I run the taps for?'. So, I can't see it devaluing the properties...

G_M

pinkteapot wrote: »

... I don't think anyone would think to have their solicitor as the question, 'How long can I run the taps for?'. So, I can't see it devaluing the properties...

I always ask this. Also 'How long can I run the electricity for'?And 'How long can I run the boiler for'?


I mean it's just common sense isn't it?

xylophone

I wonder whether the on call plumber is related to the director of the management company.......:)

A nice little earner....

Gn93

xylophone wrote: »

I wonder whether the on call plumber is related to the director of the management company.......:)

A nice little earner....

They are the partner of choice for sure..

anselld

Utility cupboards in communal blocks often use "FB" keys which you can get a set of nine standard types for less than £10.

NewShadow

pinkteapot wrote: »

I can't think of a question on the Property Information Form that would make you disclose it

If a complaint is made to the management company/freeholder - via a signed petition or similar - would that make it a disclosable dispute?

A quick google suggests the standard leasehold information form asks, for example, for copies of any correspondence from the landlord, management company and managing agent - and google also suggests this should go back in the region of three years - Meaning any correspondence sent when this system was installed should be included and any response to any complaint.

It could be argued it would materially impact on the value of the property - subject to the honesty of the disclosure.

paddyandstumpy

Whilst I see the uproar that this flow stop system has caused, and fully empathise with the OP; the alternative is no insurer willing to take on the block policy, give the suggestion in the opening post:

"Last year they were having trouble renegotiating the buildings insurance due to multiple recent floods within flats in the building. The insurance company mandated that every flat must have a timed water shut off valve installed so that they would provide insurance"

Having an uninsurable property will have far more impact on the saleability of the property...!