Is the front bay window area a party wall?

mizzbonita

I own the leasehold of a ground floor flat and repointing is need and heli bars fitted to the bay window area of my half of the flat on the external walls. 

Would I be solely responsible for this? I’m unsure after reading my lease and I find the whole party wall thing confusing. 

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. 

anselld

Party wall is where two properties join.  Unlikely to have a bay window.
The freeholder would normally be responsible for repair of the external building structure with the costs shared between Leaseholders.  There must be some relevant sections in the lease referring to the Freeholder/Landlord obligations.

greatcrested

Please

a) quote the relevant part(s) of your lease and

b) describe exactly where you mean - better still give us a photo.

This is unlikely to be a Party Wall issue - it is a lease matter.

mizzbonita

Ive had a look at the lease and it’s really confusing to be honest. It refers to the shared cost of paths, foundation, roof, guttering, drains etc (no mention of walls) and then it says ‘to maintain uphold and keep all walls, party walls, sewers, drains pipes, cables, wires and appurtenances thereto belonging in good and tentable repair and condition. 

I therefore take this as it’s my cost to bear? 

greatcrested

Is that in the freeholder liability section? Or leaseholder?

Please quote lease fully.

Is this perhaps a house converted into 2 flats?

mizzbonita

greatcrested said:

Is that in the freeholder liability section? Or leaseholder?

Please quote lease fully.

Is this perhaps a house converted into 2 flats?

Yes it’s a house converted into two flats. 

The heading of the section reads;

The Lessee hereby covenants with the lesser as follows:

To pay one half share of the due expense incurred by the lessee owner or occupier of the other flat in the mansion in respect of maintaining repairing redecorating and renewing the paths, foundations, roof, and any gutters, rainwater pipes, drains, gas pipes, electric cables and wires in under or upon the mansion and enjoyed it used by the lessee in common with the owners and lessees of the other flat in the mansion

to maintain, uphold and keep the flat and all walls, party walls, sewers, drains, pipes, cables, wires and appurtenances thereto belonging in good and tenantable repair and condition 

eddddy

mizzbonita said:

to maintain, uphold and keep the flat and all walls, party walls, sewers, drains, pipes, cables, wires and appurtenances thereto belonging in good and tenantable repair and condition 

It looks like the lease says you are responsible for repairing walls that belong to the flat. So I guess you need to look somewhere else in the lease to see if that wall belongs to the flat (as opposed to belonging to the freeholder).

(It's not a party wall, but the bit of the lease you quote says "all walls [belonging to the flat]", and not just "party walls")

mizzbonita

Ok thanks I will double check the rest.