Whenever you drive or walk past a block of flats, it all looks calm and serene. How nice, you might imagine, to have a flat in this lovely block by the river, or in that gorgeous trendy building with its underground carpark and residents’ swimming pool.

Yet the chances are that if you were to buy a flat in one of those appealing-looking blocks, you would very likely discover you had bought into an ongoing soap opera or dark sitcom, with deadly feuds, splinter groups, and endless lawsuits raging therein.

Problems are endemic to blocks of flats, for two reasons: the first is that because everybody is interdependent, anything going wrong in one flat, such as a leaking tap or pipe, is eventually likely to affect many other flats. The second reason is that blocks of flats contain many disparate people who may have nothing whatsoever in common with each other and, as a result, there may be many personality clashes.

Blocks of flats contain people who may not normally choose to live together, actually having to live on top of one another.And not all the rules and regulations in the world will prevent leaking pipes and personality clashes. Although leases draw up a kind of two-way contract between the leaseholder and the freeholder, with the aim of benefitting both, there is no documentation which determines how the inhabitants should treat each other.Problems in blocks of flats are mainly caused by:

These Are The Best Solutions

But, whenever punitive action is to be taken for misdemeanours, you should first give not only warnings, but reasons for the ban. For instance, you should say that bikes and pushchairs left in the hall constitute a fire hazard and invalidate the block insurance policy. Then you have a valid reason for taking direct action if somebody contravenes the order.

1. Appoint Professional Managing Agents

Disputes between residents in blocks of flats have escalated mightily since it became possible to collectively enfranchise and secure the RTM. Once they have secured either or both of these rights, residents often imagine it will save money and make life easier if they managed the place themselves. This is almost always a mistake and a false economy. Residents are much less likely to make a fuss and refuse to pay if they receive official-looking demands from a professional company, and can contact the managing agents direct.

The other problem is that self-managers are usually voluntary and, as such, are only prepared to give a certain amount of time to administration. In addition, there may not be anybody in the block who is fully conversant with the ramifications and complexities of leasehold law, who can keep tabs on accounts, and also appease any complainers.

The Citizens Advice Bureau – who are often the first port of call for aggrieved residents – confirms that disputes between leaseholders have increased mightily since more blocks enfranchised.

2. Communicate!

Residents need explanations and to be kept informed of what is going on. Directors and committee members have not signed the official secrets act, and must make all their doings and deliberations public. It is a good idea either to have a regular newsletter or a website whereby residents can be kept informed of work in progress, make suggestions or air their grievances.

A regular newsletter will establish a sense of community and make everybody feel they have a voice. A website is also an excellent idea, provided that somebody takes responsibility for keeping it up to date – there is nothing more annoying than an out-of-date website. Also make sure your newsletter or website is interactive and does not give the impression of commandments being handed down on tablets of stone from on high.

It is also a good idea to have a big noticeboard in the hall whereby residents can be kept informed. Residents can also pin items of interest up on the board, such as notices of local concerts, talks, services or cuttings from newspapers. This all gives a sense of community to the building.

Be careful, though, that the notice board does not just become a place for free advertisements and cards from contractors, IT consultants and builders.