Reader’s E-mail: Hi, We have a freehold property and the development it is on is managed by a management company, for which an annual fee is payable. Recent correspondence from the company indicated they would be seeking additional payments for unforeseen expenditure. Below is the latest response from them, does this make sense? Message from Management Company: “Unfortunately the… Read More »
Reader’s Email: I am a tenant who is still with same housing ass, after 39 years.Why has my landlord started charging service charge. One my contract says no service charges, two i live in a street of 200 houses only three are social housing. Reply from Service Charge Dispute It is very common for Housing Associations to attempt… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: In 2001 I purchased a leasehold property. The freeholder was a London council with an ALMO managing the lease. A Section 20 for major works was issued in July 2009, with the contract start date of 29/11/2010. I received the Notice of Intention in July 2009. In February 2010 I then received the Notice of Estimated… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: I am in the process of buying a flat which is owned by a local authority it has to come to light that they plan to do major renovation works, roof, doors, windows etc however, they won’t state when just that it is between 2014 and 2015 and no idea how much I believe if I go… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: The property I am looking to purchase is a 8 years old in a block of about 40 flats. The ground rent seems to be quite excessive. Service charge is currently £1300 pa, and ground rent is currently £150.00 per year. However the ground rent doubles every 10 years of the term of the lease. The… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: The freehold of the property within which I am a long leaseholder, changed hands in Sept 2014; a new management company (owned by the freeholder) took over the management of the building. Although the management company manages various commercial properties, our building is the only one having long leaseholders. Accordingly, the management have failed to appreciate the different… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: The building I am living in has a substantial reserved fund. And this year, there was an excess income on the account which was automatically contributed to the Reserve Fund. Yet our reserved fund contribution has remained unchanged (£770 per half year) since I’ve lived here (3 years). Is there any entitlement to… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: My husband and I have recently been sent a large major works service charge bill (over £12,000). This is more than we can afford to pay. Can we refuse to pay on the basis that the cost is unaffordable to us? Reply from Service Charge Dispute Guide 1. The short answer to your… Read More »
Reader’s E-Mail: The freeholder sends us a 6 monthly bill for the service charge, which we find difficult to manage. Are we entitled to pay the charge monthly? Reply from Service Charge Dispute Guide 1. To answer this question you will need to check your Lease. 2. Leases normally state when a Landlord may issue a Service… Read More »
Reader’s E-mail: I live in a block of 6 local authority flats: 2 leaseholders 4 tenants. Do the council have to audit the annual service charges or have a verified accountant sign them off? There is nothing in the lease that says so but I heard that councils have to do this if there are more than 4 flats… Read More »