Cost Sharing For Urgent Work Outside Of Building

[DrWho]

I recently had a problem caused by this cold weather when one of the outside branch water pipes was blocked with ice therefore stopping me using the kitchen sink and washing machine.

The work was carried out by a plumber who I called out being that it was needed to be sorted quickly especially with Xmas coming up.

My question really is am I within my rights to bill each tenant for their share of the cost baring in mind I didn't do it through the council.

The plumber did say however to me that as long as it is outside then sharing the cost is ok.

I remember being billed for something at the other side of the building that doesn't have anything to do with my property, and the person who organised that billed us all, so I thought that what's good for the goose so to speak.

Please remember this is in Scotland as some rules can be slightly different between England and Scotland.

 

[big-all]

i suspect all you can do is ask nicely for a contribution playing on there better nature

do you pay any mantainace/ management charges what does your lease/official documents from the time off purchase say

 

[onlyfitidealboilers]

id say they only rent off you so i would expect you to foot any & all maintenance costs, are you going to share your profits of the building with you r tenent when you sell it?

 

[doorBell]

I'd tell you to do one if you stuck a bill through my door.

If you asked me first, maybe.

 

[kirkgas]

I would have suggested as a courtesy you discussed the prob with others before instigating repairs, as no matter what the bill is someone will always say " i could have got it done cheaper than that"

Im sure every owner has to pay their fair share of communal repairs, ie in flats the top house doesn't pay for the roof and the bottom house doesn't pay for a choked drain, each must pay their share, but people want to know what is happening before it is fixed.

Who fixed it your mate the plumber who has inflated his bill to cover your share ? etc

people should contact their insurance to sort it out

 

[Bahco]

I'd tell you to do one if you stuck a bill through my door.

If you asked me first, maybe.

Doorbell does have a point!

 

[DrWho]

To ask everyone in the stair was a no no for a start as it was an emergency to be fixed asap, I did actually state that on the opening post.

I own my flat as others do in the stair, only a few are rented.

Why should I need to ask them when like I say I received a bill for something similar from another neighbour.

 

[DrWho]

I would have suggested as a courtesy you discussed the prob with others before instigating repairs, as no matter what the bill is someone will always say " i could have got it done cheaper than that"

Im sure every owner has to pay their fair share of communal repairs, ie in flats the top house doesn't pay for the roof and the bottom house doesn't pay for a choked drain, each must pay their share, but people want to know what is happening before it is fixed.

Who fixed it your mate the plumber who has inflated his bill to cover your share ? etc

people should contact their insurance to sort it out

I am surprised at your reply being that you live in Scotland.

It seems that if something needs fixed it is common sense to get it fixed and bill later!

 

[DrWho]

I'd tell you to do one if you stuck a bill through my door.

If you asked me first, maybe.

Doorbell does have a point!

I don't think he does actually.

 

[DrWho]

I'd tell you to do one if you stuck a bill through my door.

If you asked me first, maybe.

A very churlish remark.

 

[DrWho]

id say they only rent off you so i would expect you to foot any & all maintenance costs, are you going to share your profits of the building with you r tenent when you sell it?

They rent nothing from me, I have my own flat out of 16 in the stair.

 

[DrWho]

It's all very well being friendly asking neighbours first and getting costs prior to work being done, but when it something like a blocked communal drain pipe then the least people should do is remember that if they have a similar problem then they just may expect the total cost to be shared with all who live in that stair, and also due to it's importance get the job done and sorted fast!

 

[Agile]

I do have to say that you come over as rather agressive!

You seem to have totally ignored your neighbours and got it fixed just so that you could be able to use your drains. I have this feeling that you just felt that you were spending THEIR money. It could be interpreted that only your private branch was blocked and if this was the case then only you should pay!

In my view it would have been common courtesy to have knocked on every door that you feel should share the cost before you engaged the plumber.

Then there is the question of who should contribute. The ones who should NOT are those who live BELOW the frozen drain.

Its very questionable that anyone who was away should have to pay as it would probably have thawed before they returned.

Tony

 

[DrWho]

I do have to say that you come over as rather agressive!

You seem to have totally ignored your neighbours and got it fixed just so that you could be able to use your drains. I have this feeling that you just felt that you were spending THEIR money. It could be interpreted that only your private branch was blocked and if this was the case then only you should pay!

In my view it would have been common courtesy to have knocked on every door that you feel should share the cost before you engaged the plumber.

Then there is the question of who should contribute. The ones who should NOT are those who live BELOW the frozen drain.

Its very questionable that anyone who was away should have to pay as it would probably have thawed before they returned.

Tony

The water was about to over flow my kitchen sink, what else was I to do???

I certainly did not have the time to knock on every door first as you seem to think I should have done.

Why on earth should I be worrying about the neighbours, they weren't worried when they billed me for a problem at the back that didn't affect me.

 

[Agile]

Its questionable that you should have paid for a problem which did not affect your flat either!

Kitchen sinks dont normally freeze up either unless you had a dripping tap and were not leaving the plug in place.

Tony