Joint owned BTL - fuming

MrGorsky

Through inheritance we jointly own a small house in a bad area with my wife’s sister and partner.
 Been rented out for 5 years. No rental increases.
 Needed electrical work doing to fulfil electrical survey requirements, but as the other couple didn’t tell us, left it until 2 days before work started before telling us his mate was doing it for £980 . I’ve had a quote from my friend for £550, but other party doesn’t want to let their friends down and have proceeded to get work done (starts tomorrow). I’m fuming this will cost me an extra £230. His mate is so expensive. They also say the work needs done ASAP as outside the 28 days of the electrical survey, but they didn’t even tell us. Grrr, just venting!

Thrugelmir

The joys of mixing family with money and business.  I'd be looking to exit the arrangement. 

ProDave

Just pay it and move on.

In the longer term it seems like you are unhappy with your co owner so I would explore options to get out like inviting her to buy out your share?

MrGorsky

Yes thanks forumites I want out, but trying not to make a rash decision.

AdrianC

You run a business with somebody.
Your business partner is making decisions without reference to you.

As for the rest, what you mean is that the electrics in your let property were in such poor condition that they failed the EICR that became a legal requirement four months ago...
What were the C1s and C2s on the EICR?

I'd like to hope that the property is not currently tenanted, right?
Because if it is, and you're wanting to delay the work over just £215...

MrGorsky

The property is tenanted, and is in great condition, the EICR report had 9 x c3 reports which we want put right. There was one c2 around the swing door cover for the db has been broken from its hinge, but this was repaired straight away . Thanks

AdrianC

C3s do not have to be fixed. They are not a "fail".

With that one C2 fixed, you already have the legally-required EICR, valid for five years.

C3s are simply "not up to current standards" (BS7671, 18th edition, 1st amendment - effective Feb 2020).
The standards change regularly. There have been two new editions and several amendments just since the Millennium.

Jeepers_Creepers

What are your options?

1) Pay half the £980 for the sake of peace.

2) Pay half the £980 but have a firm chat about future decisions - they must be shared ones, or else...

3) Pay half of your £550 quote and tell your property partner that they are welcome to not let their friend down by forking out the unnecessary £215 if they want to. You are absolutely entitled to do this as they didn't consult with you first. That should drive the point home nicely - after all you didn't want to let your friend down either. And Adrian has confirmed that the C2 fixes were not essential, so could have waited.

What do you actually want to do now? Sell up and split the proceeds? In which case, a coupleofhundred here and there makes no difference. If you don't want to sell up, then you must have a 'chat' or they will almost certainly continue as if it's them wot's managing it, and taking unilateral decisions.

But, absolutely, don't shoot a gift horse in the mouth. Now't rash.

eidand

I wouldn't pay a dime over what it should cost. If they like their mate that much, they're welcome to pay themselves. Not your problem

Looking at this from a pure business point of view, it makes no sense to pay almost double for the same thing. The fact that other party has a "mate" to do the work, doesn't make any difference. You have 2 quotes and want to choose the one that is the most favourable from a business point of view, surely