SSE Communal electricity cable running through my flat

jojofindlz

Hi all 

I own the leasehold to a basement flat. Within my flat there is a large storage room (2m x 3m) that is completely unusable because there is a large duct that splits the room in two at waist height. I have to duck under it to put my bike away. The room hasn't been damp proofed or plastered and is creating issues for rest of my property with mice, cold and damp. It's also a room I feel could be an asset. 

The duct is owned by SSE and contains the electrical cable for the approx 16 other flats in the building. My understanding is that only SSE can move it and they can charge me whatever they like. 

I have been emailing SSE since August about this and am yet to obtain a quote. They take on average 3 weeks to reply and dont seem interested in the job. Meanwhile, the building freeholder is concerned about any major works and the disruption this could cause to the other flats. 

All I want is to move the cable up or down to floor height or ceiling height so it can be out the way. 

I wondered if anyone has any advice on how to take this further? 

It has been suggested to me that perhaps I could threaten SSE with legal, and that perhaps they should be paying me a fee for allowing them to use my space. Is this a goer? 

Any advice or experiences useful as I have struggled to find anything online that compares. Thanks!

Verdigris

What came up on legal searches when you bought the flat? I would imagine there is some sort of wayleave arrangement for a communal asset.

jojofindlz

Verdigris said:

What came up on legal searches when you bought the flat? I would imagine there is some sort of wayleave arrangement for a communal asset.

Thanks - this is extremely useful, I wasn't familiar with the term 'wayleave' but I can see from googling it's what I was talking about. I don't believe we have one, it certainly wasn't provided when we bought flat, but will speak to freeholder who was previous owner. 

MovingForwards

Double check all the paperwork you received from your solicitor when buying the property.

Did you know the duct was there when viewing and did you say anything to your solicitor about it?

doodling

Hi,

Is this room actually part of your flat? Have you checked your lease to confirm whether the room is leased to you or whether it is simply a space you happen to have access to?

If it is definitely part of the property leased to you then there is probably nothing to stop you getting a quote from SSE to rearrange the cabling. It is however likely to be extremely expensive (I'm going to guess high four / five figures).

If the space isn't leased to you then you have no rights at all (and probably shouldn't be storing your bike there).

Either way, if mice are gaining access via this room (rather than just living in it) then that sounds like a problem with the structure of the building which will probably be down to the freeholder to resolve.

wittynamegoeshere

Your life ceased to be fair or logical at the point when you agreed to "buy" a leasehold.  Most people steer well clear.  Nothing is likely to make sense, and lots of it will involve you handing money over and getting nothing in return.

I wouldn't have started from where you are!

If it was there when you bought the place then I don't think you have a right to demand anything of anyone.

dbks

wittynamegoeshere said:

Your life ceased to be fair or logical at the point when you agreed to "buy" a leasehold.  Most people steer well clear. ..

How many owner occupied flats in Great Britain do you know that are not leasehold?

Shared ownership homes in GB are usually leasehold too.

EssexHebridean

There are all sorts of reasons why someone might need to go with leasehold - from available finances, needing to live in a location where that is what is available through to not actually wanting the responsibility of a freehold property for whatever reason. This suggestion that somehow it's a "second class citizen" thing to live in a leasehold property has no place on a forum that is supposed to be inclusive and helpful to all, and particularly to those who may be on a lower income.