What permissions do I need from management company?

acsrjsk

Hello there, I am in the process of buying a 1 bed flat. I hear that you need permission from management company before any work can be done to the flat - I am just wondering what kind of work will need permission?

I have listed some examples - do I need permission if I need to do work on any of these?

1. Replace bathroom
2. Installing new boiler
3. fix a broken floor - say re-tiling
4. Replacing kitchen - putting new cupboards, replacing sink etc.

user1977

You "hear" the correct answer from your solicitor once they tell you exactly what the title deeds say. But in general I would expect this to be more of an issue where you're making substantial changes, rather than just replacing items in a relatively like-for-like manner.

eddddy

Your specific lease will say what you need consent for, and as above, your solicitor might summarise that in their report.

But based on your list, a couple of specific things to look out for:

• Installing a new boiler - will this involve cutting a hole in an external wall for the flue? Often external walls belong to the freeholder, so you might need the freeholder's consent for this.

• If you reuse the existing flue hole, that shouldn't be an issue (assuming it wasn't cut without the freeholder's consent).  But if there is an issue, discuss it with your solicitor before mentioning anything to the freeholder

• Laying floor tiles - is that in the kitchen/bathroom? Often leases will say that rooms must be carpeted, but kitchens/bathrooms would almost always be an exception.

LHCalc123

Every lease/management company is different so I can only say what I know from our obligations. 

From your list, permission would be needed for a new boiler. 

If the bathroom and kitchen works were not resulting in new holes in the cavity, then no permission needed.

If you're just fixing existing tiling that would be okay but installing laminate etc on anything other than ground floor wouldn't be permitted unless bathroom/kitchen. 

MEM62

acsrjsk said:

I have listed some examples - do I need permission if I need to do work on any of these?

1. Replace bathroom
2. Installing new boiler
3. fix a broken floor - say re-tiling
4. Replacing kitchen - putting new cupboards, replacing sink etc.

Your lease will dictate what you need consent for and what you do not.  There is no one-size-fits-all answer.