ChatterBank3 mins ago
Leasehold Neighbour Wants A Communal Entrance
My leasehold (we're freehold) neighbour wants to make a porch so both of our front doors (our front doors are next to each other) have one exit/entry for us both because as, they say, it would make the front of their property warmer. We are complete separate households and mentioned we want to remain so as, we continued that when it comes to putting the house up for sale in the future, for example, how will they see who's separate? The thing also is they seemed to have made these 'super large' porch plans assuming we'd agree and he went away sour faced. Then he mentioned something about indemnity insurance which we've no idea what that was about.
My question really is can they just go ahead with this communal porch without our say so? We want and need both properties to be separate as they have been all these many decades. Thank you 🤔
Answers
I'd tell him no. Sharing anything only brings problems. Who is going to be responsible for it's maintenance in the future? If he wants a porch tell him to build it infront of his own door. If he is wanting warmth he'd be better off investing in a new high quality front door.
Don't know anything about leasehold but would he need permission from the freeholder to build it anyway?
I must be misinformed regarding leasehold. When I owned a leasehold home my understanding was the 'owner' of the lease owned the land not the property. I used to pay ground rent (I believe some referred to it as a "peppercorn" rent, but maybe I was misinformed there too). I left it like that for years but finally got fed up with the lease 'owner' changing, hearing no request for payment for some time, and then the new one asking for rent that had already been paid; and the pain in the neck communications that inevitably followed (I eventually bought the freehold to get shot of the hassle). But I never asked any permission to do anything to my own house. I don't see why anyone would ever agree to such a demand.
I don't see how anyone can legally stick a porch up in front of you door without your permission. And I'd be wary of rights & responsibilities for any such thing since no one can be trusted to agree with you forevermore. Other people can be a pain.
btw - I think indemnity insurance is a single premium insurance you take out to cover any future costs where no other warranty is in place.
e.g. a friend had a new patio door installed by a builder who wasn't accredited under the FENSA scheme. The door was fine but when she sold the property she had to take out indemnity insurance in case a problem arose for the new owner.
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