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Ridiculous charge from the management company!
sandford6016
Posts: 162 Forumite
Hi,
Just wanted to vent a bit, and see if anyone ele has had this. We're in the process of selling our flat and buying a house.
Had an email from my solicitor today saying that the management company of the flat would not proceed with the sale until they had their fee. He sent me a copy of their letter confirming this.
The exact wording was:
"Our fee of £176.25 inc. VAT covers all normal photocopying, postage, admin, telephone and fax".
Are they having a laugh!! I'm assuming they photocopy onto gold leafed paper and have to telepehone Australia for 6 hours a day!!
Anyway, I've sent a cheque but I've insisted on the covering letter that I want a breakdown of the costs! Bet I don't get one!
Just wanted to vent a bit, and see if anyone ele has had this. We're in the process of selling our flat and buying a house.
Had an email from my solicitor today saying that the management company of the flat would not proceed with the sale until they had their fee. He sent me a copy of their letter confirming this.
The exact wording was:
"Our fee of £176.25 inc. VAT covers all normal photocopying, postage, admin, telephone and fax".
Are they having a laugh!! I'm assuming they photocopy onto gold leafed paper and have to telepehone Australia for 6 hours a day!!
Anyway, I've sent a cheque but I've insisted on the covering letter that I want a breakdown of the costs! Bet I don't get one!
:T If you don't have anything sensible to say, don't say it! :T
0
Comments
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It's normal.0
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Many flat sellers have had this. As said, normal. Another reason i would never buy a flat or anything leasehold, to many possible scams.0
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I rented a flat that was leasehold. The LL wish he never bought it. I certainly wouldnt buy one0
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It is regrettably quite normal and not the most expensive - I have known cases where we have had to pay out around £300. They simply sit there thinking up ways to make money out of lessees. You could challenge the fees sometimes but the cost and hassle of doing so is usually not worth it and they know that.
Also when you come to sell it doesn't help if it looks to the buyer that you have been having an argument with the landlord/managing ganet (sorry, typo - agent) - buyer's solicitor tells his client that the agents look unreasonable and that can put a buyer off!RICHARD WEBSTER
As a retired conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful assuming any properties concerned are in England/Wales but I accept no liability for it.0 -
And thats another good reason not to buy in the first place!0
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It's a rip-off, but sadly normal and would cost you more time/effort to challenge it.
I would encourage anyone buying a leasehold flat to check out the option of getting together with other leaseholders in the building to buy out the freehold. Works so much more efficiently if those that have an interest in the building hold the freehold and agree the running of the building.0 -
One would assume that your vendor had to pay a similar fee when you bought the flat.
Bearing in mind that this fee will be charged regardless of whether the sale goes through or not it is a nice little money spinner for the managing agent.
Just make sure that they don't try and charge an extra fee if the sale aborts and you agree another sale to someone else down the line!0
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