Private Road Maintenance Contributions

whatwhenwhere

Hi,

I live on a private/unadopted road, there are 33 residencies on the road, we all contribute to a road fund each year for covering the costs of repairs and accumulate a fund for major repairs/resurfacing. These are voluntary contributions, with an informal association managing the collection and holding of the funds.

I am curious for those also living on private roads, contributing to a fund for maintenance/resurfacing:

1. How much are you paying annually?   
2. Is it expected that the money you contribute will cover all road work costs, or do you expect that if major works or full resurfacing is to be done, you will need to pay a larger additional one off amount to cover it?
3. Do you have regular increases in the contribution?
4. Do you find residents are generally willing to pay? Has the number paying dropped off with increases in contribution amnts?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Kind regards,
Lee

silvercar

Depends on what obligations are in the deeds. If the contributions are currently voluntary, it does sound like there is nothing in the deeds.

thegreenone

whatwhenwhere said:

Similar situation here.

1. How much are you paying annually?   £150
2. Is it expected that the money you contribute will cover all road work costs, or do you expect that if major works or full resurfacing is to be done, you will need to pay a larger additional one off amount to cover   it?  Things have changed slightly as we no longer get free help (well, a bottle of whisky!) from a local farmer to flail the high hedges.  Consequently, we now pay a local firm to do it twice a year.  An extra  payment may be required for full resurfacing but full consultation would always take place.
3. Do you have regular increases in the contribution?  There were slow increases as the cost of insurance increased.   It went up to £150 a few years ago and is expected to stay for quite a few years to come.
4. Do you find residents are generally willing to pay? Has the number paying dropped off with increases in contribution amnts?  We had a few who refused to pay because they thought their house insurance ran to the middle of the road but that is not the case and didn't include money for the sinking fund.  The insurance is to pay for any accidents on the tarmac itself ie postie slipping on ice or bitten by a dog etc.  I believe everyone is paying now.

Jonboy_1984

The in-laws are asked** to pay £70 a year on a similar sized street, it all goes into a sinking fund that is used for all expenses, most years that is only the insurance charged to it, but they do have a reasonable pot if any repairs are required/when it eventually needs resurfacing.

**asked as the “company” was setup 150 years after the street was built to tarmac the road and they don’t have anything on their deeds compelling then to pay, but did give a donation to original works and were then given a share in the company retrospectively (along with a request for an annual contribution!) .

user1977

thegreenone said:

whatwhenwhere said:

The insurance is to pay for any accidents on the tarmac itself ie postie slipping on ice or bitten by a dog etc. 

Surely you only need communal insurance for dog-biting if you all own a communal dog?

propertyrental

user1977 said:

thegreenone said:

whatwhenwhere said:

The insurance is to pay for any accidents on the tarmac itself ie postie slipping on ice or bitten by a dog etc. 

Surely you only need communal insurance for dog-biting if you all own a communal dog?

It's a private road. How else would you keep trespassers our?

jj_43

Contributions as required. In 20 years, work was needed once. Approx 20 households, £300 each. Everyone paid except one household. They recently “tried to sell” but we reminded them of the obligation to inform new buyers of the dispute and their sale unrivalled.