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Service charge issues in leasehold flats

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24

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  • Jox
    Jox Posts: 1,651 Forumite
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    edited 20 March 2017 at 6:02PM
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    Resolved issue :)
  • Hoploz
    Hoploz Posts: 3,888 Forumite
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    I can see it isn't fair but would it be enough in itself to stop me buying my dream home, when I've got this far into the process?

    It sounds a bit odd. I cannot imagine that an insurance company would insure on the basis that they did not cover the whole building. That is the point of having a common policy, after all! The only way to tell would be to ask to see the building insurance documentation. TBH I don't think a mortgage company would be happy with a split arrangement either.

    Which makes me wonder whether it's all just a bit of smoke and mirrors - the freeholder just excluded his own flats from the payment schedule, but they are actually included in the policy and services paid for by the charges. That's the simpler explanation. Not fair, but oh well never mind.
  • Jox
    Jox Posts: 1,651 Forumite
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    edited 20 March 2017 at 6:03PM
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    Resolved issue :)
  • pinkpiglit
    pinkpiglit Posts: 304 Forumite
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    Jox wrote: »
    I have asked the freeholder if they pay separately for the services and they have told me to ask my solicitor to contact their solicitor and there will be costs involved so maybe I have to drop this but I may lose my buyer over this and it will come up again if I find another buyer so I feel stuck..



    Maybe you need to do this in order to find out whether there are separate charges that are paid directly by the top floor. I'd have thought this will be the only way you'll know for sure, anything else will be pure speculation.
  • Jox
    Jox Posts: 1,651 Forumite
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    edited 20 March 2017 at 6:03PM
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    Resolved issue :)
  • Rosemary7391
    Rosemary7391 Posts: 2,879 Forumite
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    Hoploz wrote: »

    It sounds a bit odd. I cannot imagine that an insurance company would insure on the basis that they did not cover the whole building. That is the point of having a common policy, after all! The only way to tell would be to ask to see the building insurance documentation. TBH I don't think a mortgage company would be happy with a split arrangement either.

    It's not impossible - I think it happens reasonably often in Scotland, where there isn't the same leasehold structure for blocks of flats. In my block each individual flat arranges their own buildings insurance.

    It does seem daft that a freeholder can just refuse to answer a seemingly straightforward question... can you ask for a copy of the bills/documents in question, eg the insurance, so you can see for yourself whether it relates to the entire block and how much it costs? I'd certainly expect to get such information from the factor as a matter of course, so it seems reasonable to ask the freeholder for it.
  • Jox
    Jox Posts: 1,651 Forumite
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    edited 20 March 2017 at 6:03PM
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    Resolved issue :)
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
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    But of course it will cost you, why should it be 'free'
  • Lord_Baltimore
    Lord_Baltimore Posts: 1,348 Forumite
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    Jox wrote: »
    Thank you, I guess it's not worth trying to get 5 years worth of contributions from the freeholder for all the electricity etc we have paid for, for the top flats :)

    I would be seething if this happened to me but I wouldn't cut off my nose to spite my face by kicking up a fuss whilst I was still in a property that I was trying to sell.

    Get rid of that place first; get even later :wink:
    Mornië utulië
  • Jox
    Jox Posts: 1,651 Forumite
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    edited 20 March 2017 at 6:03PM
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    Resolved issue :)
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