Flat storage

outlaw777

Hi all, within the flat close my ground floor there are 4 storage cupboards, my neighbour at the time said 3 were hers and only 1 was mines however my mum who did the initial viewing informed me yesterday she 100% remembers the selling agent opened up 2 storage cupboards  on ground floor and he said 2 were mines, I also do have what appears to be an extra storage cupboard key.  How can I legally prove and challenge if its mines??

moneysavinghero

Have you checked which cupboards your keys open?

greatcrested

Read your lease.

Try your key in the locks?

princeofpounds

Do you own or rent this flat?

Who is the freeholder of the flat?

There are two possibilities:
1) Cupboards are demised to each flat in the title deed, and they are owned under the lease. I suspect not that likely for such a small space.

2) Cupboards are part of the communal areas, owned by the freeholder and allocated for use by leaseholders under license (just a legal term meaning with permission).

If you rent the flat, ask your landlord. If you own the flat, inspect your lease and/or ask the freeholder.

Worth trying the keys, but it would be odd if both you and the neighbour had a key to the same disputed cupboard. 

I wouldn't trust the word of either the estate agent or the neighbour in this, so best to just find out the true situation.

davidmcn

The reference to a "close" suggests we're talking Scotland, in which case no "lease" or "freeholder" - but the answer ought to be in the title deeds nonetheless (though sometimes left a bit vague).

princeofpounds

davidmcn said:

The reference to a "close" suggests we're talking Scotland, in which case no "lease" or "freeholder" - but the answer ought to be in the title deeds nonetheless (though sometimes left a bit vague).

Good spot, if the case! Would never have know that.

outlaw777

I dont want to try the key in case my neighbour thinks Im trying to steal from her cupboard! Yes I own the flat....

moneysavinghero

outlaw777 said:

I dont want to try the key in case my neighbour thinks Im trying to steal from her cupboard! Yes I own the flat....

At least try both keys in the cupboard you know is yours. If they both belong to that cupboard then you know the second is just a spare. If it doesn't then you know that there probably should be another cupboard somewhere that is for you.

scottishblondie

Your deeds should describe the cupboards that are yours.  Also, unless your neighbour is monitoring your movements all day I think you'll be ok to try the keys on the cupboards without getting her back up.  Just don't snap off the key in the lock