RCD's optional extra?

[decisions]

I own a ground floor flat. The management company have informed me that on renewal for the buildings insurance we have to have RCD's fitted. At an expense to the flat owner.

Is this right? Or is the management company trying to get more money?

If its necessary for the insurance, surely its down to whoever pays the insurance (the cost of the managment company)?

[bednobs]

the management company don't have any money to do this per se- they manage the flat owners money for them along with managing the flats. So for example, the insurance comes out of the money you pay them in monthly fees (and others of course) they just do the negotiating and the running around finding the insurance. They may not have any money in the pot to do the necessary changes that are required. Even if they did, fitting an rcd (although i dont actually know what that is) is a material improvement to your flat, so you will reap the benefit both in saftey and when you come to sell, so yes, you should pay. Is there a residents committee? perhaps if you dont want to pay or get this done you could ask the residents rep t approach the management company to ask them to find a different insurer that dosent need an rcd to insure you

[bednobs]

meant to say, i used to live in your situation, we paid the monthly fees, but nothing ever seemed to get done, so i phoned some local companies, got quotes on how much they would charge and went to the residents committe, got myself elected, had a meeting, changed companies and (finally) got the grass cut, pointing done and windows washed. Then i resigned and they just carried on. All because i was peed off with the grass never being cut. If you are not happy with the management co. do something about it!

[OlleCromwell]

You can answer this yourself are we saying that every property with a Distribution Board needs to go out and pay �15-17 pound to protect their property with a RCD i would say the vast majority of properties over the last 7years have a RCD before that I recon 25% of properties have made provision for RCD's.The cost to install by a electrician will cost more . The Management company are only protecting the Landlords interest they are his servant.
To note : Insurance markup on Residential Leasehold flats is 300-400% you are prob. being overcharged on your flat insurance and you have as much chance of seeing the policy off your Managing Agent as finding the man in the moon. Remember if it doesnt say you pay for it in the Lease dont pay for it. The Managing Agent can send you to Disneyworld but it doesnt mean you have to pay for it.