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Repairs - Whose Responsibility?

Repairs_owl

Who should pay for a repair can be a sensitive issue. Ultimately, the lease sets the rules. Clearly, it would be unfair for the Service charge pot to pay for repairs inside other people's flats.

There are always emergency circumstances whereby we have to call out a contractor but this does not prevent the repair being recharged to the owner responsible at a later date. A common example of this would be a repair to an entryphone which turns out to be a handset fault (lessee's responsibility) rather than a system or wiring fault (service charge responsibility).

Below is a guide which covers the most common items. We are unable to give authoratitive guidance on window repairs because your lease will specifically state who has the responsibility for timbers, decorations, glass and/or sealed double glazing units.

If you notice any items missing from the repairs matrix please contact us.

Issues Responsibility
Leasehold Owners Freeholder /
Management co.
Developer /
New builder
Broken Glass - Communal front door N/A true Not Applicable
Broken Glass - Communal window N/A true N/A
Broken Glass - Residents private window true N/A Not Applicable
Cleaning - Vomit/Cleaning issues Not unless CCTV/witnesses say it was you! Usually unless recharged to person causing nuisance Not Applicable
Electricity - Power failure Yes, unless in communal entrance Yes, if communal N/A
Fire alarm - Fire alarm ringing N/A true N/A
Gas - meter boxes & rusing pipe joints true No unless a communal system No post unit sale
Gates - Motor control malfunction, gates opening & shutting, not shutting properly or ceasing N/A true Not unless installation fault
Gates - opening & shutting sporadically N/A true N/A
Gates - staying open N/A true Not unless installation fault
Heating - Central heating true No, unless a communal system Not post new build guarantee
Intercom - Intercom system failure handset repairs = Yes wiring repairs = Yes N/A
Leaks - Leaks between flats & insurable events true Yes, for communal areas N/A
Lift - Lift failure N/A true Not unless installation fault
Lights - Light bulbs need replacing in common parts or keep fusing N/A true N/A
Lights - Common parts lights on at the wrong times N/A Yes to adjust timer N/A
Locks - Locks Failure/Security Issues Unless in communal entrance Yes if communal door Not unless installation fault pre-handover
Noise - Noise (parties or contractors working on private flat after hours) Owner to call Council Environmental Health Department Owner to call Council Environmental Health Department Not Applicable
Pipes - A bath waste / bath overflow pipe true No as not communal Not post new build guarantee
Pipes - A boiler overflow pipe true No as not communal Not post new build guarantee
Pipes - A toilet overflow pipe true No as not communal Not post new build guarantee
Pipes - Mains water inlet pipe Yes, unless shared with others Possibly if communal Not post new build guarantee
Pipes - Waste pipes and Overflows Yes, unless shared with others No, usually belongs to owner Not post new build guarantee
Repairs - General Repairs Unless in communal entrance Usually Not post new block handover
Roof - Roof exit window open Yes if demised to owner Usually unless demised to owner Only if installation fault
Roof - Roof failure Yes if demised to owner Yes if communal roof area Not unless installation fault year 1
Sleepers - Rough Sleepers report to www.streetlink.org.uk N/A N/A
Trace and Access Depends on insurance policy Depends on insurance policy Not unless fault proved pre handover