How can leaseholders afford urgent roof repairs?
9:01 AM, 28th April 2025, 12 months ago
12
Hi, I own a single tenanted unit in a block of 30 flats where 90+% of the leaseholders also own a share of the freehold.
The building roof is leaking and requires significant urgent remedial work, as some flats are now so damaged that the residents have been forced to move out. Many of the other leaseholders are pensioners on a nominal income or low salary workers. The Section 20 is looking at figures between £5-8k per flat.
What can be done to help those who simply don’t have the money to pay and are too old or poor to get a loan for this work?
Thanks,
Nancy
Tags:
Emergency Roof Repairs, Leaseholder Roof Repairs, Low-Income Leaseholders, Pensioner Leaseholders, Section 20 Charges
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Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 403
6:26 PM, 29th April 2025, About 12 months ago
Kim
Who agreed the roof repairs pre Covid? It should have been put to a vote by the leaseholders in their roles as shareholders of the RMC / RTM , if roof repairs are not costs to service charge under provisions of your leases.
Who paid the contractors? Who holds the Warranty or Guarantees?
It would seem it was not an insurance claim if it was done to a low standard. Why didn’t RMC/Rtm follow up and why was the contractor paid if the work was sub standard?
With share of freehold all should act as if it was a repair to their own home and take a personal interest.
Of course the flats are not going to sell. This situation has to be declared to future purchasers so an EGM to be called to decide what you’re all going to do about it.
No one else is going to sort it.
Member Since December 2024 - Comments: 62
11:52 AM, 5th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Kizzie at 29/04/2025 – 18:26
This illustrates perfectly the problem with enfranchisement. You have all these interested parties and no one in overall control of the building. There is still a lot to be said for a good freeholder working with a good managing agent. Of course the media will have you believe otherwise based on sensationalising the actions of a tiny number of rogue operators.