Leasehold Neighbour Wants A Communal Entrance

[Treacle71]

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 🤔

 

[Peter Pedant]

say you are thinking about selling and so it is not do-able.

and then dont sell

[Barmaid]

Are you in the UK?

[Treacle71]

Yes, England, UK.

[Barmaid]

No they cannot just go ahead.  I would refuse this if it were me (although it is odd that you are freehold and the one next door is leasehold).

[Gettingonabit]

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?

[jno]

are they actually planning to make two doors one, or just have a shared porch where you stand out of the rain while both of you open separate doors? It doesn't sound like a bad idea, but no, they can't force you to build half a porch on your property. They really should have asked you first.

[roopower]

When we were leasehold we had to ask permission if we wanted to do anything - even decorating. We wanted to remove an internal door and make the dining room bigger and the leaseholders wanted a lot of money to give their permission. 

[ToraToraTora]

No way jose! Nothing but agro for the future and you'll never sell the house.

[Treacle71]

Brilliant guys. Thank you xx

[Atheist]

They can't build on your property without your consent. If you're leasehold, maybe they don't need your consent, just the consent of the freeholder. Inform your freeholder and see what they say.

[jno]

Treacle's freeholder so I can guess what she'll say

[Old_Geezer]

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.

[Old_Geezer]

...your door...

[Treacle71]

Exactly, Old_Geezer!  Worst thing is, my mum's been here since 1968 and these young uns want to take over! Without sounding condescending, they're only leasehold.

[Treacle71]

Freehold and their being leasehold is a long complex story, Barmaid.

[davebro3]

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.

[davebro3]

and - no, don't have a communal porch.

[Treacle71]

Thank you, davebro3 ;-)