Water tank in loft

eddddy

Jonboy_1984 said:

As others have mentioned it is entirely likely they have the right to the tank being in your loft, and it would be fully in your court to change it at your expense.

Just to clarify - assuming the OP has posted part of the neighbour's lease - The neighbour has the right to use the water tank in loft and the OP cannot unilaterally take away that right, even by paying for modifications.

The OP can attempt to reach an agreement with the neighbour to remove the water tank - probably in exchange for paying the neighbour a chunk of money.

But both parties will then probably want the lease varied (changed) to reflect the new set-up - a solicitor might charge about £1.5k for that.

TheGreenFrog

There is another interpretation of the lease - that once both maisonettes switch away from gravity fed, and the water tank is removed, that the right in the lease becomes irrelevant and that there is no right to require reinstatement of a water tank in the loft.  So as long as you persuade ground floor to switch away from gravity fed (and you may need to fund or part fund them doing so), there is no need to change the lease.

You can also get water tanks which fit in the eaves of converted lofts.  Neighbour may not want hassle of having his water supply in your flat and in an inaccessible place so may be very amenable to changing supply - especially as it may provide opportunity to upgrade the water pipe to larger diameter etc.