Replacing my flat's entrance door

mary669

My lease doesn't specify anything about the flat's door, and I would like to replace it.

From what I've seen, not all flats have the same door, my existing one is definitely different, all of them white though.

The lease only mentions the "external decorations or painting of the Demised Premises or any other part of the building".

Also, the fire report stated that it is not fireproof (nor the glass window above it), and needs to be fireproof.

What do you think, am I allowed to replace it?

sal_III

Most likely technically the outside of your front door is owned by the Freeholder, so you shouldn't be replacing it without consent, even if it's not explicitly noted as needing one in the lease. If the lease states the door needs to be fireproof and it's not, you should be asking the Freeholder to remedy it.

In any case I would ask the Freeholder/ManCo first, just to be on the safe side

mary669

I own share of freehold, does that change things? I guess the door is owned by me in this case?

davidmcn

How does the Lease define the Demised Premises? Does that include the door?

mary669

davidmcn said:

How does the Lease define the Demised Premises? Does that include the door?

No it doesn't mention anything about the door. Nor windows for that matter (which I am thinking of replacing too in the future)

sal_III

mary669 said:

I own share of freehold, does that change things? I guess the door is owned by me in this case?

In which case you technically still need the agreement from the other shareholders of the freehold company. As you don't own the whole door, only a % of it proportionate to your share of the Freehold.

In practice most places it's all informal and as long as you don't do something drastic and/or antagonise your neighbours you should be fine.

mary669

sal_III said:

mary669 said:

I own share of freehold, does that change things? I guess the door is owned by me in this case?

In which case you technically still need the agreement from the other shareholders of the freehold company. As you don't own the whole door, only a % of it proportionate to your share of the Freehold.

In practice most places it's all informal and as long as you don't do something drastic and/or antagonise your neighbours you should be fine.

I own a % of my own door ? How do I find that in the lease? I didn't see anything like that. And the door is inside my property in terms of layout, so technically mine, no?

PasturesNew

If you own a share of the freehold then you need to ask the others if you can change your door.  It should be fireproof.  If I were you I'd find 2-3 doors I'd like ... and then put it to the others. 
Your door probably needs to be approved because it's important for fire safety, so is of interest/importance to any other freehold owners. 
Bottom line is: You will probably find a door you like, ask them (in writing/officially), they'll say yes and you'll go ahead. 

sal_III

mary669 said:

sal_III said:

mary669 said:

I own share of freehold, does that change things? I guess the door is owned by me in this case?

In which case you technically still need the agreement from the other shareholders of the freehold company. As you don't own the whole door, only a % of it proportionate to your share of the Freehold.

In practice most places it's all informal and as long as you don't do something drastic and/or antagonise your neighbours you should be fine.

I own a % of my own door ? How do I find that in the lease? I didn't see anything like that. And the door is inside my property in terms of layout, so technically mine, no?

If the front door is not listed in the demised premises in the lease - it's property of the Freeholder.
You own a % of the entire Freehold, not a specific part of it in relation to your flat, but an overall %. 

Hence you technicality own a % of your door (and % of everyone else doors for that matter). So you technically you need permission from the majority of the Freehold owners to change the door.

davidmcn

mary669 said:

davidmcn said:

How does the Lease define the Demised Premises? Does that include the door?

No it doesn't mention anything about the door. Nor windows for that matter (which I am thinking of replacing too in the future)

Ok, but how does it define the Demised Premises?

mary669

davidmcn said:

mary669 said:

davidmcn said:

How does the Lease define the Demised Premises? Does that include the door?

No it doesn't mention anything about the door. Nor windows for that matter (which I am thinking of replacing too in the future)

Ok, but how does it define the Demised Premises?

Good catch.

"The internal plastered coverings and plaster work of the walls bounding the Flat and the doors and door frames and window frames fitted in such walls (other than the external surfaces of such doors door frames and window frames) and the glass fitted in such window frames and

The plastered coverings and plaster work of the walls and partitions lying within the Flat and the doors and door frames fitted in such walls and partitions and..."

I guess I don't own the door and frame?! lol

And reading further, I don't even own my floor! Wow those leases are weird...