Service charges on flat help

fairyworld

Basically I just recieved a completely unannounced bill in regard to service charges. I dont have any money to pay this not even in installments and i dont know what to do. I live in a shared ownership property

The paperwork says they can take me to court etc etc, and I have so many other bills (unsecured) that I'm paying a pound a month on as I cant afford to pay more, then I get this!
I have tried speaking to CCCS already,all they advised was to pay what I can as I dont have enough sare to set up a DMP

PS. wasnt sure where to post this so also posted in debt free wannabe board.

poppysarah

Unaccounced? What's it for?
Was it not explained to you when you bought a flat that you would incur this sort of charge?

fairyworld

Well I pay service charge and rent together, so i assumed that this was covered, this this bill came and it talks about communal stuff, but I thought that was already covered within the service charge/rent payment

it says I can withhold payment unless its a demand, but they can take me to court and prevent me from entering my home!

Jvic28

I can't understand how you have got yourself into this without realising you had a service charge to pay on top of your rent. It must have said somewhere when you were buying the property. I think you need some serious help. I think you need to call CCCS or national debt line and they will recommend the best for you. I would think you're going to have to give up the flat though. Sorry if this sounds scary but from the sounds of things you have no money to spare at all. Maybe you could post a SOA including everything (and remember the service charge)

brightonman123

are you the leaseholder? if used a solicitor for the purchase, they have a duty of care to find out what ongoing costs they may be, as well as any likely repairs/renovations due..

leessees should het prior notice of any large works ('section 20', of leasehold and commonhold act i think its called), amd then costings, so they can raise any objections beforehand..

see if other flat owners are in the same situation.