Poor Property Maintenance Service - what are my rights?

Eclipse_Dj

I live in a block of 20, 2 bedroom flats, we all pay £37.50 each per month to the leaseholder maintenance company.

I know our building insurance is included in this charge, but apart from a few small squares of grass being cut about 10 times throughout the year, and our windows being cleaned 2-3 times anually - I really struggle to see how they can justify such an amount.

We have 10 outside lamps in the carpark area 4 of which do not work. I have tried in vain to contact the company, I had one reply full of excusses and have been ignored since.

It really annoys me of the arrogance shown, I am a paying customer (£450 a year) and they are not honoring their service to the standard required. They get £750 per month, thats £9000 a year - and i feel like I'm being taken for a mug! At a push I could only justify £4000 of that!

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? A PETITION FROM ALL THE FLAT OWNERS? CITIZENS ADVICE? or am I fighting a lost cause? I would be grateful of any advice on offer!

I really wish Martin Lewis could look into this, as I believe there are massive over-payments that could be claimed back! A these companies forced to lower their charges in respect of actual work carried out!

p00hsticks

Doh! just typed in a massive reply and have lost it.....let's see what I remember...

Hopefully the management company is putting at least a proportion of the monthly charges to one side to cover the occasional large expenses like repairing the roof, repointing the external walls, redecorating the communal areas, re-tarmacing the car park etc - or are you expected to pay extra when thse sorts of work need to be done ?

Do you have a residents assocaition for the block ? If not, have you thought of starting one, or at least finding out if the other flat owners feel the same way as you on this one topic ? If all the owners can put pressure on the leasehold company it is likely to have more effect.

I'm not an expert, but have a feeling that the laws have changed relatively recently to either give leaseholders the right to manage the lease themselves, or to at least take leasehold disputes to some sort of ombudsman to resolve.

Direct Gov mentions the Leasehold Advisory Service which apparently give free legal advice on leasehold law. I suggest it might be worth you getting in touch with them to see what actions are open to you.

Details are here

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_072537

p00hsticks

Oh, and another thing.... I suspect that you should be entitled to a detailed breakdown from the leasehold management company of exactly how your money is being spent - if you don't get one I suggest you ask for one.