Major works leaseholders bill

only1sab

Has anyone received their final bill for major works? I own a flat in Newham and i am being charged 11.5k for works i don't believe came anywhere near that amount. But the council sent me a breakdown which i multiplied by the number of leaseholders and it turns out we are covering most if not all of the costs.

I could only do an estimate as each leaseholders is charged completely different amounts based on a formula, that makes no sense, which is in our lease. What can we do? the formula in our lease is ridiculous we seem to be paying for council tenants within our block!

Has anyone challenged a major works service charge bill and won?

ILW

Many councils never wanted to sell these homes in the first place, and seem to take great pleasure in trying to ruin the people who bought.

sunnysea83

go to the LVTs website www.rpts.gov.uk and look at making a service charge application or contact lease.

Lease.org.uk

lincroft1710

I think the time to object to any works/charges is between notification and the work starting. I have known leaseholders persuading another London Borough that certain minor works don't need to be carried out to their particular block. You should have received a schedule detailing works to be carried out, total cost, apportioned cost etc., well before work started.

If you don't pay it appears that the council will just put a charge on your flat.

sunnysea83

If the work has been done and youve received a bill for payment, you can make an applicaiton to the LVT and they will decide whether the work was carried out to a reasonable standard and what the charge for that work should be.

Just because the work has been finished doesnt mean you cant query the cost.

only1sab

We did get a schedule beforehand but i was really disappointed with the result everything just looks cheap. The new water pipes they say were put in was a fib as my flat had blocked pipes not long after and they had to replace them as it was in leading to the loft hence outside my flat.

And to top it off they still need to do more work costing us even more as it was done so crap it still isnt up to the decent homes standard ahhh!

lincroft1710

If work not done to required standard then the council should pursue the contractor to make good, not expect leaseholders to pay more.

Doozergirl

Frankly, contracting for a Local Authority is a meal ticket for many. I know they inflate their prices and charge much more to a council than they would to a more savvy buyer.

You must check the Lease website and read up on major works and the proper process that the council should have followed.

Fire_Fox

Advice on everything to do with service charges, major works and Leasehold Valuation Tribunals. Sounds like you need a copy of you r long lease, the schedule of works, a copy of the invoice for the works and the services of a professional builder/ surveyor.
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/

You need to get your case straight tho, either you are disputing on the grounds that the charges are not "reasonable" (did you suggest a specific cheaper contractor when consulted?), "reasonably incurred" (no need to do the work/ as much work/ fake invoices) or the works are not of a "reasonable standard" (shoddy workmanship). Whichever you choose - or indeed several arguments - you will need evidence.

You are going to struggle if the argument is you aren't happy with the formula in your long lease, as those are the terms you bought under. You could dispute the costs if you were not consulted properly, the best case scenario is you pay just £250! So read all your paperwork and the 'consultation' section on the LEASE website in exquisite detail.

Fire_Fox

only1sab wrote: »

We did get a schedule beforehand but i was really disappointed with the result everything just looks cheap. The new water pipes they say were put in was a fib as my flat had blocked pipes not long after and they had to replace them as it was in leading to the loft hence outside my flat.

And to top it off they still need to do more work costing us even more as it was done so crap it still isnt up to the decent homes standard ahhh!

Have the council admitted the major works are sub-standard?? Or is this different work that needs doing?

sunnysea83

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You need to get your case straight tho, either you are disputing on the grounds that the charges are not "reasonable" (did you suggest a specific cheaper contractor when consulted?), "reasonably incurred" (no need to do the work/ as much work/ fake invoices) or the works are not of a "reasonable standard" (shoddy workmanship). Whichever you choose - or indeed several arguments - you will need evidence.
.

This is correct you can argue that they werent reasonably incurred and that the work isnt too a reasonable standard.

The LVT will then decided 1) if its payable under the terms of lease and 2) the amount thats payable for the work etc

Be warned though unless you qualify for a waiver of fees you will have to pay an application fee which ranges to £350 depending how much your disputing and a hearing fee of £150.