Paying for Works to Front Doors of Flats When the Lease is Unclear

[Hayfever]

Could anyone point me in the right direction here please?

A 1970s block of (6) flats over three floors. All six residents share the freehold and pay a service charge to the company they part own

A FRA has determined that front doors on five flats need upgrading to reach nominal status and the 6th flat needs a new fire doorset

The lease is unclear as who owns (pays for) the front door, as when it defines the demise, it mentions the walls of the common parts but not the doors 

There is an assumption that it will be cheaper to upgrade the doors (a third hinge, plus strips & seals) than it will be to replace the door and frame in the 6th flat

The six freeholders have discussed this matter and 5 of them who are set for upgrades want to pay for their own front door individually . The owner of the 6th flat that needs the most expensive works wants the costs for all doors  to be added to the service charge and shared equally amongst other residents.

Unsurprisingly the  5 residents who are upgrading aren't happy about subsidising the costs of the new fire door and frame on the 6th flat so a stalemate exists

Its looking likely that the 5 doors will be upgraded within weeks but the owner of the 6th flat is refusing to agree to paying for his door?

 

 

So my questions are:

1) What is the default in law - where there is no clear definition in the lease  as to who is responsible for paying for front doors (fire doors) to be upgraded or replaced when it is not clearly defined or set out in the lease?

2) How can the Responsible Person (in this case, the company the 6 residents own) force the guy in the 6th flat to pay for his own new doorset?

 

Thanks 

 

[green-foam]

This is more of a legal question than a fire safety question, you need legal advice which this forum does not offer.

[AnthonyB]

Where a flat owner will not change their door then Government Guidance is for the RP to take legal action, both directly under civil law & indirectly though the EHO under the Housing Act HSSR system

[Hayfever]

On 28/05/2025 at 11:51, green-foam said:

This is more of a legal question than a fire safety question, you need legal advice which this forum does not offer.

I totally understand what you mean, but surely compliance is all about meeting legal statutory targets - so pretty much everything on this site has a 'legal advice' angle doesnt it?

I was asking for assistance whether that was towards a  guidance document, best practice or simply what practical examples forum contributors had experienced. If I have overstepped forum rules, I apologise 

Thank you to Anthony B. I rather feared that might be the route 😞