I am a Freeholder, why has my landlord sent me a Section 20B notice?

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 »

I can’t get back retention monies left with the buyer’s solicitor because my former Landlord is delaying issuing a finalised Major Works bill. What are my options?

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 »

Major Works are planned for the ex-Council property I am buying but the Council will not provide any details. What can I do?

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 »

Can I withhold payment of my Service Charge if my Landlord fails to comply with Section 42A and 42B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987?

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 »

Do service charge accounts need to be ‘signed off’ by an accountant? And does the commencement date of a Right to Buy Lease need to be the same as the start date?

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 »