who pays for the communal front door

smitha1120

In the first issue i think i did everything correct e.g. caling the agent who told us to call the locksmith.

In the second issue i dont think i followed the book but does that mean i just have to swallow it or try to sort it myself by speaking with the other lease holders (2 of which live in their flats)

eddddy

smitha1120 wrote: »

In the second issue i dont think i followed the book but does that mean i just have to swallow it or try to sort it myself by speaking with the other lease holders (2 of which live in their flats)

For the 2nd call out, it sounds like you have no legal basis for claiming money back from anyone...

...except perhaps the locksmith.

(Although you can ask the other leaseholders if they'd like to contribute.)

smitha1120 wrote: »

i tried to stress to the locksmith i would not pay for work so you can come see the lock if you want but i wouldnt be paying. Unfortunately my girlfriend was home when the locksmith visited and did not insist like i was that we would not be paying so they fixed it.

If the locksmith said he would come out for no charge, then maybe he owes you your money back.

But it depends exactly what was agreed by you on the phone and by your girlfriend.

e.g. Maybe the locksmith came out for free to look at the problem, but then told your girlfriend that the problem would cost £x to fix, and your girlfriend agreed and told him to fix it.

smitha1120

eddddy wrote: »

For the 2nd call out, it sounds like you have no legal basis for claiming money back from anyone...

...except perhaps the locksmith.

(Although you can ask the other leaseholders if they'd like to contribute.)

Even with it being a communal door you dont think i can reasonably ask the other lease holders to pay some, especially as one of the asked us to look into it?

Sadly i suspect my GF agreed for him to do the work when he was there. We have a invoice for the work but have not yet paid it as we assumed we would pass it on the LL or building management.

Sachs

You can certainly ask and they may even agree. However there will very limited times in your life where you can incurr expenses that someone else has to pay, just think about it.

G_M

This is a matter between you and your landlord/letting agent.

The agent told you to get a locksmith and undertook to repay you.
They should either pay the locksmith or reimburse you.


Before deducting the cost from rent, I'd advise following as closely as possible the process for getting repairs done and reclaiming via rent, as described by Shelter here.
The situation is not exactly the same (eg getting competitive quotes), but you must give the LL/agent every opportunity to re-imburse you before taking unilateral action.


The risk is it could be claimed to be rent arrears, with consequential results. (eg S8)


https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_private_landlord


There is clearly an issue with the locking arrangement, but that is between the leaseholders (eg your landlord) and the building's freeholder (or their management company if there is one).

diggingdude

You won't get much sympathy for the second door charge, you have employed the locksmith off your own back and will likely have to pay. You shouldn't be touching anything communal.