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Repairs items can be a sensitive issue and it takes an understanding of the lease to know what really remains the responsibility of each party. Accepting repairs that really lie with the leaseholder as a service charge item is unfair on other lessees and below is a guide aimed to help you decide who should pay.

There are always emergency circumstances whereby the management or freehold company may call out a contractor but this does not prevent the item later being recharged to the lessee who bears the legal responsibility for the repair item. A common example of this would be perhaps a repair to an entryphone which turns out to be a handset fault (lessee's responsibility) rather than a system or wiring fault (management or freehold company responsibility).

This matrix is intended as a guide only to cover the most common items. Your specific lease will set out the responsibilities for your block. 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.

ITEM LEASEHOLDER RESPONSIBILITY FREEHOLDER / MANAGEMENT COMPANY RESPONSIBILITY DEVELOPER / NEW BUILDER RESPONSIBILITY NOTES
General Repairs Yes Yes Possible in 1st 1-2 years since build date. Leaseholder Freeholder
Developer
Trace and Access Possibly Possibly Possible in 1st 1-2 years since build date. Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Waste pipes and Overflows Possibly Possibly Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
A bath waste / bath overflow pipe Yes No Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
A toilet overflow pipe Yes No Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
A boiler overflow pipe Yes No Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Mains water inlet pipe Possibly Possibly Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Central heating Yes No, unless a communal system. Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Electricity Possibly Possibly Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Light bulbs need replacing in common parts or keep fusing. No Yes No Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Common parts lights on at the wrong times. No Yes No Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Gas. Yes No unless a communal system. Unlikely Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Leaks between flats & insurable events. Yes Yes, if excess up to extent of excess No Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Lift failure. No Yes Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Gates No Yes Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Gates: staying open. No Yes Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Gates: Motor control malfunction, gates opening & shutting, not shutting properly or ceasing. No Yes Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Fire alarm ringing. No Yes Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Roof exit window open. Possibly Possibly Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Intercom system failure. Depends Depends Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Sleepers in hallways. No No No Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Noise (parties or contractors working on private flat after hours). Lessee to contact Environmental Health Department Lessee to contact Environmental Health Department Not Applicable Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Vomit/Cleaning issues. Depends Depends Not Applicable Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Broken Glass - Residents private window. Yes No Not Applicable Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Broken Glass - Communal window. No Yes Not Applicable Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Broken Glass - Communal front door. No Yes Not Applicable Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Locks Failure/Security Issues. Depends Depends Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer
Roof failure. Depends Depends Depends Leaseholder
Freeholder
Developer