Question 1

Painting the front door

Accepted Answer

Q: One of our residents has changed his door which he prefers not to paint white like the other doors. His wish is to keep the natural wood colour and has asked for advice. (His previous door was white) On checking with the lease, it states the “exterior of the building should be decorated in manner at point of demise”, or words to that effect. Do you think “exterior” refers to internal doors of flats? Two of us have advised he should paint it in keeping with other doors but we're not clear as to whether he's obliged to do so. A relatively trifling issue I know, but your advice would make it easier for us to present our case. FPRA Hon Consultant Claire Allen replies: Thank you for the copy lease in relation to the flat in question. The description of the flat itself is relatively minimal. While there is no mention to the doors or windows in the flat, I do note the flat includes both the internal and external walls of the flat. It is quite unusual for the external walls to be included, as generally the external walls would form part of the freehold demise and therefore be the freeholder’s responsibility to repair and maintain. Doors and windows are generally included in the flat but the external decorative surfaces of the doors/windows are not. It is more practical for the freeholder to decorate the external doors and windows so that their appearance is kept similar. There is helpfully a landlord’s covenant of the lease stating that the landlord is responsible for the maintenance for the main entrance, passages, landings etc in the building. This would seem to suggest that the external surfaces of the flat doors would be for the landlord to redecorate. Sorry I can’t be more helpful- the lease description is not entirely accurate! It is my view however that for the sake of consistency all external surfaces of the flat doors should be painted by the landlord.

[Submitted November 2016]

Question 2

Painting the front door

Accepted Answer

Q: One of our residents has changed his door which he prefers not to paint white like the other doors. His wish is to keep the natural wood colour and has asked for advice. (His previous door was white) On checking with the lease, it states the “exterior of the building should be decorated in manner at point of demise”, or words to that effect. Do you think “exterior” refers to internal doors of flats? Two of us have advised he should paint it in keeping with other doors but we're not clear as to whether he's obliged to do so. A relatively trifling issue I know, but your advice would make it easier for us to present our case. FPRA Hon Consultant Claire Allen replies: Thank you for the copy lease in relation to the flat in question. The description of the flat itself is relatively minimal. While there is no mention to the doors or windows in the flat, I do note the flat includes both the internal and external walls of the flat. It is quite unusual for the external walls to be included, as generally the external walls would form part of the freehold demise and therefore be the freeholder’s responsibility to repair and maintain. Doors and windows are generally included in the flat but the external decorative surfaces of the doors/windows are not. It is more practical for the freeholder to decorate the external doors and windows so that their appearance is kept similar. There is helpfully a landlord’s covenant of the lease stating that the landlord is responsible for the maintenance for the main entrance, passages, landings etc in the building. This would seem to suggest that the external surfaces of the flat doors would be for the landlord to redecorate. Sorry I can’t be more helpful- the lease description is not entirely accurate! It is my view however that for the sake of consistency all external surfaces of the flat doors should be painted by the landlord.

[Submitted November 2016]

Painting the front door

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