Problems with management company... Advice neeeded!

kes1981

Sorry, I meant in the early stages of a dispute - I have seen disputes get far worse, far quicker when people haven't paid. But totally agree with the way you've gone about not paying yours, paper trail is the only way to go!

Re: my windows. I have far bigger issues as there is water penetration when it rains, which comes into my bedroom. The management company have denied all responsibility (it took over a year for them to deny it, I called them 3 times a week and wrote HUNDREDS of letters) until they found another tenant who had sorted it herself - so they promptly shifted the responsibility to me.

It's a common fault in our block that was the builder's fault (flat is 8 years old), and the management company refuse to do anything on our behalf, even though 8 - 10 flats are affected and I even sat in the AGM and made a stink about it. As a result, everyone has had different rates of success in getting it resolved through their own efforts.

Jomo

:rolleyes:Re Management Companies.

More regulations are required but unfortunately alot of them get away with doing very little.

You can fight to get them replaced though, but this would involve alot of hard work.

For us it was easier because we were only 12 flats but like another poster has said, the leasehold agency should beable to give you some advice on what you have to do.
:rolleyes:

Fire_Fox

kes1981 wrote: »

Sorry, I meant in the early stages of a dispute - I have seen disputes get far worse, far quicker when people haven't paid. But totally agree with the way you've gone about not paying yours, paper trail is the only way to go!

Re: my windows. I have far bigger issues as there is water penetration when it rains, which comes into my bedroom. The management company have denied all responsibility (it took over a year for them to deny it, I called them 3 times a week and wrote HUNDREDS of letters) until they found another tenant who had sorted it herself - so they promptly shifted the responsibility to me.

It's a common fault in our block that was the builder's fault (flat is 8 years old), and the management company refuse to do anything on our behalf, even though 8 - 10 flats are affected and I even sat in the AGM and made a stink about it. As a result, everyone has had different rates of success in getting it resolved through their own efforts.

Don't give up. Have you taken advice from LEASE, or completed the forms for their medition service? This may kick your manangment company into action.

What does your lease say about repairing or replacing windows? Do you have a ten year NHBC guarantee in place?

Henry_Hoover_2

OMG SOLITAIRE/PEVEREL

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS READ THIS LINK BELOW!! AND YOU' RE IN FOR A VERY ROUGH READ I'M AFRAID

http://www.thetruthaboutsolitaire.co.uk/


A WARNING TO ANYONE WHO BUYS A BARRETTS HOUSE, THEY USE THIS MANGEMENT COMPANY FOR MOST OF THEIR PROPERTIES.

PLEASE PEOPLE DO YOUR RESEARCH INTO WHATEVER MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS GOING TO RUN YOUR DEVELOPMENT, IT WILL STOP THIS KIND OF HEARTACHE.

GOOD LUCK
AMD

PS ALSO READ THE ALL COMMENTS AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Sorry to deviate from the thread slightly, but, to be fair, that site only concentrates on the negatives. I have found that while solitaire have been pretty bad, they are getting a lot better.

A lot of people in the block I live in moan that things never get fixed, but they don't actually report problems!

Since they have centralised their customer services, I have noticed a big improvement. When I report a problem, solitaire usually get it looked at, if not fixed, within a few days..

Fire_Fox

Jomo wrote: »

:rolleyes:Re Management Companies.

More regulations are required but unfortunately alot of them get away with doing very little.

You can fight to get them replaced though, but this would involve alot of hard work.

For us it was easier because we were only 12 flats but like another poster has said, the leasehold agency should beable to give you some advice on what you have to do.
:rolleyes:

I found it difficult to work out what my rights were intially, and what the responsibilities of the managing agents are. Once I got my head around the Landlord-Tenant Act, read through my lease and contacted the Leasehold Advisory Service I am more confident in my position. :T

We are only 15 flats, two at least are owner-occupied (neither of us pay), several are long term vacant and several let to international tenants. Nothing wrong with foreign tenants but it does make communcation more complex as I am not multi-lingual.

To take on the freehold or to oust the agents would require a majority decision, and most of the leaseholders appear to be absentee landlords. Also our present agents are a sister company of the freeholder AND based in Scotland (flat is in Yorkshire) which all adds to the difficulties. Part of the reason we offered medition is it's only held in London - bit of a mission from Scotland but a nice away-day for neighbour and I.

I am presently banking on the fact that our current caretaker is being virtually 'gifted' the freehold as the landlord is not making a profit and the managing agents are sick of the grief! I am not 100% certain the caretaker isn't a bit crooked as we were charged £2k for lightbulbs (not fitting, just the lamps) a few years ago. :eek: Have chatted to him recently, and hope to be able to come to a mutually agreeable arrangement as it's in all our interests that the building is given an internal 'face-lift'.