Tiggy Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 We have a leasehold property that has been empty for a few months and our estate agent reminded us that we needed to get an EICR because we would have new tenants after 1st July 2020. We asked our trusted electrician to do this, which entailed a full rewire and new consumer unit, and the works were completed by the end of June. Our freeholder is Lewisham Council, and when I enquired about permission to replace a double-glazed window unit, I was referred to their website and discovered that we should have applied for permission beforehand to have the electric works done, and that it is going to cost £300 to get retrospective permission, because we broke the terms of our lease. We are quite frustrated that we are being penalised for something that we did not know about, and wonder how many other landlords might get caught by this. We also would like to know whether we can argue that we should not be charged for retrospective permission for new rules that the government has imposed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortitia Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 If you own a leasehold property the Freeholder (in this case Lewisham Council) will have terms covering any works to the building. Is this a flat in a block? What does it say in your lease about works and re-wiring? The key to all works on your leasehold property lie there. You need to read and understand your lease as it is there to keep order and a safe building. Is it fair you are penalised ? Possibly but try appealing it via the council for a reduction in the fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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