Would you ask freeholders permission if you were me?
I have a top floor flat and urgently need a new boiler as its broke down and the tenants are getting a bit grumpy.
I’ve arranged this to be done but they need to erect scaffolding to access the flue as the building is quite high.
My question is do I need the freeholders or the management companies permission to erect scaffolding for 1-2 days? I would normally just ask but I’m in a hurry and knowing what my freeholder is like they will take ages to get back to me and then they will do all they can to claim the shirt of my back in fees for giving permission!!
Should I just go ahead and hope no one finds out or is there a better way round this?
Thanks
Rob
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Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12208 - Articles: 1403
10:29 AM, 14th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Hi Rob
Sounds to me like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I’d apply the Richard Branson mentality and say …. “screw it just do it!”
You can’t leave your tenant without hot water and heating at this time of year unless you are prepared to lose your tenant, get sued or pay for alternative accommodation. Either way, that will cost you a fortune, probably more than anything nasty the freeholder can or will do ….. and that’s assuming they even find out!
.
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12208 - Articles: 1403
11:05 AM, 14th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Further thought, have you considered using a cherry picker instead?
May even be cheaper and certainly a lot less hassle 🙂
.
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12208 - Articles: 1403
11:10 AM, 14th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 186 - Articles: 2
12:47 PM, 14th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Thanks Mark, yeah i might mention that to the boiler company (especially as they claim the scaffolding will be £800! yeah right!
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 561
2:16 PM, 15th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Talk to other companies, there are flues that can be installed from the inside without the need to access the outside of the wall. Until the issue is making good when the old flue was.
Also a scolding tower may be a option and is a lot less than £800 to hire.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 264 - Articles: 1
3:08 PM, 15th December 2014, About 11 years ago
cherry pickers can be hired by the day.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 186 - Articles: 2
5:14 PM, 15th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Thanks all, looks like a cherry picker is 300 a day which is better. just heard from boiler people that they cant do the new combi boiler upgrade install till Jan 5th, its been 4 weeks now with no boiler working to get to this point! Ive Given the tenants 3 plug in heaters and they have warm water from the emersion heater plus I have offered £100 off the rent (925pm normally) for December and January I don’t think theres much more I can do,I hope there happy with that, its stressing me out more than it is them I think!!
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12208 - Articles: 1403
5:24 PM, 15th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Rob ” at “15/12/2014 – 17:14“:
Hi Rob
I think that’s very fair.
Similar situation in the readers question/article linked below.
.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 233
10:06 PM, 18th December 2014, About 11 years ago
You will also need a licenced operator for the cherry picker and if he can’t do the work as well then you need one that is rated to carry two people plus tools in the cage.
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 106
11:53 AM, 20th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Does anyone else have experience using cherry pickers? I’ve suggested it a few times to workmen, but have always run into the problem Ray describes of needing a licensed operator, which makes it expensive.