Who should pay for entry/intercom system registration?

eddddy

rorydelap said:

That's definitely part of it. And really, that fee isn't a huge deal for us. But, I do like to know what the standard is for things like this. Since I couldn't find any similar information or threads anywhere, it feels like the information isn't really available. If it is a landlord's responsibility, then it would be handy for people to have that information.

As a matter of principle, I also don't like the idea that a letting agency is saying "we're not obliged to tell you that in advance", it all seems in bad spirit, so if there is a way of challenging it then I'd like to.

There isn't really a 'standard' for things like this.

I guess you could try taking the landlord to court to claim the £35 - but since it sounds like nothing explicit about this was mentioned in any contract, I suspect that it would be judged on the basis of "what would a reasonable person expect?".

But I'm not sure why you're wanting to make such a big deal about this. In your position, I'd be tempted to let this drop, and worry about bigger battles.

propertyrental

There's a process to follow if you want to get it repaired yourself and then deduct the cost from your rent. See

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/legal_remedies_for_disrepair/tenant_deducts_from_rent_or_offsets_rent_arrears_because_of_disrepair

eddddy

propertyrental said:

There's a process to follow if you want to get it repaired yourself and then deduct the cost from your rent. See

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/legal_remedies_for_disrepair/tenant_deducts_from_rent_or_offsets_rent_arrears_because_of_disrepair

It's not broken.

It's more a case of...

• if you want to use the entryphone, you have to pay the the provider a £35 registration fee

• if you don't want to use the entryphone, you don't have to pay anything

The OP is annoyed that the landlord didn't mention the 'optional' £35 charge in advance, so doesn't think they should pay it.

I suspect that the landlord regards it as an 'optional charge', but the OP regards it as a 'necessary charge' which should have been mentioned.

General_Grant

DullGreyGuy said:

subjecttocontract said:

What annoys me is that an increasing number of aspects of modern life require not just a mobile phone but a smart phone. We aren't born with a mobile and nobody provides us with one and I usually object to having to provide one.
Having a mobile is a personal choice not a compulsory requirement as far as I'm concerned.

If it's like the system we had, it doesn't require a mobile it just requires any type of UK phone number. Basically it's not an intercom but a phone with the buttons pre-programmed to phone a set number depending on the flat number entered. 

They select your flat number it dials you be that a mobile, landline, smartphone, voip or anything else. If they put your neighbours flat number it dials them. There is then normally a code that the recipient of the call presses which triggers the doors/gates to open/release.

Private renters probably more commonly have a mobile as you can take it with you and no fixed contracts to worry having to break half way through. 


With ours there wasn't a registration fee that I remember but it took a while after we moved out for it to be changed from our phone and as we were number 1 we got a lot of calls from leafleters etc

@DullGreyGuy
As a side matter, if these are phone calls, how are the calls paid for?  £35 for an eternity or ongoing amounts so you pay something for having people ring your doorbell?

R3dders

Also worth checking what the system allows for the money you will be paying.  When I set ours up at first we only put my wife's mobile number in.  When we decided to change this at a later date (and another payment) and knowing what was allowed, we gave them my mobile number, my wife's mobile number and then land line.  Now if the first number logged goes unanswered it trips to the second and third numbers.  We find the mobile numbers are far better to use as you can allow delivery people in even when holiday abroad.  Just a thought.

Also our phone calls are the intercom system to the occupiers phone are paid from the annual management fees, so no direct cost the the owner/occupier.