Landlord demanding payment for his newly installed gym!?
Discussion
PH Bods, returning here because I know you're all full of great advice.
I live in a block of flats in London, the building is owned by one company and all flats are let by them.
Yesterday I received an email from the landlord saying that he's installed a gym, and that effective today we owe him £50 quid a month?!
We didn't ask for a gym.
We weren't told a gym was being installed.
A gym is not mentioned in our AST.
Notwithstanding the fact that the gym looks pants (a couple of running machines and a multi-gym-type-thing), it's a massive cheek to just install it without telling us.
I told him yesterday we're not paying for it, it's not in our contract etc, to which he replied 'Yes you are, and I'm issuing an addendum to your contract'.
Does he have a leg to stand on here? Can I just tell him to FRO?
I live in a block of flats in London, the building is owned by one company and all flats are let by them.
Yesterday I received an email from the landlord saying that he's installed a gym, and that effective today we owe him £50 quid a month?!
We didn't ask for a gym.
We weren't told a gym was being installed.
A gym is not mentioned in our AST.
Notwithstanding the fact that the gym looks pants (a couple of running machines and a multi-gym-type-thing), it's a massive cheek to just install it without telling us.
I told him yesterday we're not paying for it, it's not in our contract etc, to which he replied 'Yes you are, and I'm issuing an addendum to your contract'.
Does he have a leg to stand on here? Can I just tell him to FRO?
utgjon said:
PH Bods, returning here because I know you're all full of great advice.
I live in a block of flats in London, the building is owned by one company and all flats are let by them.
Yesterday I received an email from the landlord saying that he's installed a gym, and that effective today we owe him £50 quid a month?!
We didn't ask for a gym.
We weren't told a gym was being installed.
A gym is not mentioned in our AST.
Notwithstanding the fact that the gym looks pants (a couple of running machines and a multi-gym-type-thing), it's a massive cheek to just install it without telling us.
I told him yesterday we're not paying for it, it's not in our contract etc, to which he replied 'Yes you are, and I'm issuing an addendum to your contract'.
Does he have a leg to stand on here? Can I just tell him to FRO?
That’s crackers. What a scam. Glad I don’t rent or live in London. I live in a block of flats in London, the building is owned by one company and all flats are let by them.
Yesterday I received an email from the landlord saying that he's installed a gym, and that effective today we owe him £50 quid a month?!
We didn't ask for a gym.
We weren't told a gym was being installed.
A gym is not mentioned in our AST.
Notwithstanding the fact that the gym looks pants (a couple of running machines and a multi-gym-type-thing), it's a massive cheek to just install it without telling us.
I told him yesterday we're not paying for it, it's not in our contract etc, to which he replied 'Yes you are, and I'm issuing an addendum to your contract'.
Does he have a leg to stand on here? Can I just tell him to FRO?
Hopefully you can get out of it.
Tell them to get stuffed.
Its not in your contract so no need to pay extra
Normally this type of thing would be included in the Service Charges, as its outside of the property that you have leased.
Service charges are the landlords responsibility, although they may try to put the rent up to cover it at the next renewal.
I would check what your AST agreement says about rent increases, the standard template that most landlords use mentions 5% a year maximum.
Its not in your contract so no need to pay extra
Normally this type of thing would be included in the Service Charges, as its outside of the property that you have leased.
Service charges are the landlords responsibility, although they may try to put the rent up to cover it at the next renewal.
I would check what your AST agreement says about rent increases, the standard template that most landlords use mentions 5% a year maximum.
Edited by Burrow01 on Friday 2nd February 13:08
You have to admit, that sticking a crappy multigym in a block of flats then telling everyone that they owe an extra £600 a year is genius. They clearly have no intention to actually provide useful facilities, but simply squeeze more rental income.
It is appalling behaviour, yet at the same time, I'm impressed.
It is appalling behaviour, yet at the same time, I'm impressed.
OP, is there any background on why the LL added a gym, other than some of the sketchy guesses and suggestions so far.
For example, have some of the other tenants requested it and if so, were you consulted?
Or, do you think he has simply added it to make any vacant flats more appealing during the next lockdown?
(If you wanted to start messing with them, you could ask about the limited of the liability insurance they have taken out, if one of the residents or their guests is injured when using the machines).
Edited by Hol on Friday 2nd February 13:59
Mont Blanc said:
You have to admit, that sticking a crappy multigym in a block of flats then telling everyone that they owe an extra £600 a year is genius. They clearly have no intention to actually provide useful facilities, but simply squeeze more rental income.
It is appalling behaviour, yet at the same time, I'm impressed.
How many flats?It is appalling behaviour, yet at the same time, I'm impressed.
Could he have rented out the gym room to someone?
It's the landlord's building, the OP has a short term contract to live in his flat.
SteBrown91 said:
Time to start flat hunting
Thankfully we'd already decided to leaveMont Blanc said:
You have to admit, that sticking a crappy multigym in a block of flats then telling everyone that they owe an extra £600 a year is genius. They clearly have no intention to actually provide useful facilities, but simply squeeze more rental income.
It is appalling behaviour, yet at the same time, I'm impressed.
I said to my wife last night that if he'd approached it differently saying 'I've installed a modest gym facility in the building to make it a bit nicer, it'll be included as part of any rent increase at your renewal but if you want to use it immediately it'll be £50 a month", I'd have had a very different reaction.It is appalling behaviour, yet at the same time, I'm impressed.
The fact he's just done it and demanded payment I find mad!
Hol said:
OP, is there any background on why the LL added a gym, other than some of the sketchy guesses and suggestions so far.
For example, have some of the other tenants requested it and if so, were you consulted?
Or, do you think he has simply added it to make any vacant flats more appealing during the next lockdown?
(If you wanted to start messing with them, you could ask about the limited of the liability insurance they have taken out, if one of the residents or their guests is injured when using the machines).
No known background to it, no consultation etc. First I knew was the email yesterday! For example, have some of the other tenants requested it and if so, were you consulted?
Or, do you think he has simply added it to make any vacant flats more appealing during the next lockdown?
(If you wanted to start messing with them, you could ask about the limited of the liability insurance they have taken out, if one of the residents or their guests is injured when using the machines).
Edited by Hol on Friday 2nd February 13:59
I can see why he's done it - the block needs some amenities adding to attract top dollar - a gym is one thing, a secure bike shed another... so it's not a bad idea as such.
Good idea re: insurance.
OutInTheShed said:
How many flats?
Could he have rented out the gym room to someone?
32, so £20k a year!Could he have rented out the gym room to someone?
No, it's in the basement.
OutInTheShed said:
It's the landlord's building, the OP has a short term contract to live in his flat.
He can make use of his building in any capacity he likes so long as it doesn't breach my AST... I don't think that includes auto-enrolling me in a gym membership I didn't ask for nor require.My response, in writing, would be;
“Dear Mr Landlord,
Thank you for your correspondence on 01-02-24 regarding the newly installed gym facilities that nobody asked for.
Further to your demand for an additional £50 pcm on top of our presently agreed rental amount of £xxxx pcm, my response is as follows:
Go f
k yourself. !
Yours sincerely
utgjon”
“Dear Mr Landlord,
Thank you for your correspondence on 01-02-24 regarding the newly installed gym facilities that nobody asked for.
Further to your demand for an additional £50 pcm on top of our presently agreed rental amount of £xxxx pcm, my response is as follows:
Go f
k yourself. !Yours sincerely
utgjon”
utgjon said:
He can make use of his building in any capacity he likes so long as it doesn't breach my AST... I don't think that includes auto-enrolling me in a gym membership I didn't ask for nor require.
Indeed, but once your AST ends, you can either try to negotiate or find somewhere else.If you are direct, not via an agent, check you didn't sign up for some facilities to be provided at a future date.
A few months x £50 is at the small end of tenancy dispute costs.
As yo usay 32 flats, is there a consensus?
105.4 said:
My response, in writing, would be;
“Dear Mr Landlord,
Thank you for your correspondence on 01-02-24 regarding the newly installed gym facilities that nobody asked for.
Further to your demand for an additional £50 pcm on top of our presently agreed rental amount of £xxxx pcm, my response is as follows:
Go fk yourself. !
Yours sincerely
utgjon”
Why not keep it civil, simply enquire as to the nature of his intent should your response: respectfully reflect the one given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram.“Dear Mr Landlord,
Thank you for your correspondence on 01-02-24 regarding the newly installed gym facilities that nobody asked for.
Further to your demand for an additional £50 pcm on top of our presently agreed rental amount of £xxxx pcm, my response is as follows:
Go f
k yourself. !Yours sincerely
utgjon”
That way, just a bit more of his time will likely be taken to google it, and still be told to eff off without direct offence.
NFT said:
105.4 said:
My response, in writing, would be;
“Dear Mr Landlord,
Thank you for your correspondence on 01-02-24 regarding the newly installed gym facilities that nobody asked for.
Further to your demand for an additional £50 pcm on top of our presently agreed rental amount of £xxxx pcm, my response is as follows:
Go fk yourself. !
Yours sincerely
utgjon”
Why not keep it civil, simply enquire as to the nature of his intent should your response: respectfully reflect the one given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram.“Dear Mr Landlord,
Thank you for your correspondence on 01-02-24 regarding the newly installed gym facilities that nobody asked for.
Further to your demand for an additional £50 pcm on top of our presently agreed rental amount of £xxxx pcm, my response is as follows:
Go f
k yourself. !Yours sincerely
utgjon”
That way, just a bit more of his time will likely be taken to google it, and still be told to eff off without direct offence.
My apologies, but this sort of brass neck really grates.
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