Council want to install fire door on ex council flat - who pays?

Paul10012

The council want to replace front doors in this block with fire doors. I live in an ex council flat, so  who pays and can I refuse the work?

user1977

What does your lease say about it?

Mildreds_Earrings

If the fire doors meet the current fire safety legislation, then there is little you can do about it. 

If the Council owns the building and the works are required, then if you are a tenant, you pay through your rent and if you are a leaseholder, you will receive an invoice for your contribution. 

If the works exceed £250 per person, the Council will serve you with a Section 20 Notice.

Check your lease. You signed up to the terms of the lease when you purchased the property. If the Council carries out the formal S20 Consultation correctly, you cannot refuse the works. 

theartfullodger

Pleased to hear council doing works to make you & yours safer.  I'd be more than happy to pay for extra safety for me.

Yes, what does your lease say - can't read it from here....

eddddy

Paul10012 said:

I live in an ex council flat,

So presumably  you mean you are a leaseholder.

If so, you need to read your lease to see who is responsible for the front door - You (the leaseholder) or the council (the freeholder).

It's usually you (the leaseholder).


As a guess, the council might be saying...

• It's a legal requirement for you to install a fire door for your flat

• We (the council) will install one for you, if you want, at a cost of £x - which you'll have to pay

• Or you can arrange installation yourself (But there may be conditions about the style of door, etc. And you might have to pay fees for the style to be approved by the council, and/or for the door to be inspected by the council, once it's installed.)

You can check with the council whether what they want really is a legal requirement, or just a preference on their part.

Jude57

Paul10012 said:

The council want to replace front doors in this block with fire doors. I live in an ex council flat, so  who pays and can I refuse the work?

My landlord, a local authority, is currently installing new windows in my block and are doing so free of charge for leaseholders because the funding has come from grants for energy efficiency. When they replaced the front (only) doors to each flat a few years ago, leaseholders again didn't have to pay because it was part of the improved fire safety measures. Residents were consulted on the preferred colour for the new doors but the style, which is actually very nice, wasn't up for debate. All doors in the block are identical and aside from letterbox and flat number which were installed with the doors, nothing else is permitted to be attached so as not to affect the doors' integrity for fire safety. Leaseholders could not refuse the work because failure to install the new doors was a safety issue and would have affected whether the block as a whole met regulations, as well as the block insurance requirements. It's my understanding that, had anyone refused, ultimately the Council could seek a Court order enforcing compliance, enabling them to effectively force entry if necessary, to replace the door. The new doors are much nicer, far more secure (with 5 point locks) and of course, meet the fire safety regulations. 

I'm surprised that your Council hasn't notified residents in writing of what's happening, why it's happening and whether leaseholders will have to pay. Why not ring the Council and ask? If you can't get an answer, try speaking to your local Councillor, their contact details are on the Council's website - but perhaps leave it a few days to look that up in case new Councillors have been elected for your Ward.

studiy102

If the council is replacing the front doors with fire doors, they usually cover the cost, especially in ex-council flats. However, whether you can refuse the work depends on your tenancy agreement and local regulations. Fire doors are often a safety requirement, so refusal might not be an option. It’s best to check directly with the council or your landlord for specifics.

AskAsk

You can't refuse and you will have to pay for the doors, either directly or through the service charge, but you will have the option to install the door yourself as long as it meets their standards.

As someone had said, it could come through major works if the cost exceeds a certain amount.

propertyrental

My understanding of the proposal was for the main building front door to be replaced, not the OP/leaseholder's personal front door to his flat.

Usually that would fall under a freeholder's responsibility to undertake the work, with the cost shared out between the leaseholders.

If some of the residents are council tenants, then their landlord (the council) would pay their share.

Leaseholders would pay their own share though.

However as suggested above, reading the lease is the first step, and then establishing whether the work really is required (ie safety compliance) ad finally the cost should be managed via the S20 process.

Murphybear

theartfullodger said:

Pleased to hear council doing works to make you & yours safer.  I'd be more than happy to pay for extra safety for me.

Yes, what does your lease say - can't read it from here....

Having lived in a building with decent fire doors we were all thankful they were there when a fire broke out (plus of course the local fire brigade who were brilliant ).  Even if you had a choice please don’t refuse to get them.