Council starting major works before consultation period finished?

tizhimi

Nooooo! Get on to your work collegues. I'll ring for you! Anything! Anything! (Goodness me I'm getting excited)

ET1976

have you had a bad experience with a council then?

BASFORDLAD

If your at work with internet access then you will have a phone @ work i am sure...unless you work in mcdonalds?

tizhimi

Don't even go there. I've had a bad experience with everything! I just want everyone to stand up for themselves and sort things out ASAP, sorry for getting very excited hehehehehe!

ET1976

BASFORDLAD wrote: »

If your at work with internet access then you will have a phone @ work i am sure...unless you work in mcdonalds?

well my office has phones, yes, but there aren't enough lines for us all and as i don't need one for my job i haven't got one.

tizhimi

Have a word with your boss, ask for their opinion and then say "do you think XXX will know? can I borrow your phone?"

Done!

PlutoinCapricorn

I know of a case where there were write-offs because the paperwork had not been issued by the council at the right time and did not go into enough detail. There are strict rules about the procedures to be followed, and in any case if the work does not need doing the council are not right to be charging you. Something similar happened to me, it was the company that would be given the contract that prepared the high estimates and the schedule for unnecessary work and when the residents presented a united front the council backed down.

You do need to go to the official leasholders assistance organisation though.

**Upsy_Daisy**

There are strict guidelines on leasehold consultation - this is called Section 20 consultation in accordance with Section 20 of the Commonhold and Leasehold reform Act 2002

Letter 1 Notice of Intention - 30 days consultation - inviting WRITTEN observations

letter 2 - Notice of Estimates - advising details of estimates received and 30 days WRITTEN observations

If your Council hasn't sent you as a minimum these two letters then they haven't followed Section 20 consultation procedures and the maximum they can charge you for the job is £250.

Are you sure they haven't done this? - if so then in theory you can sit back and get £000's of work done for virtually nothing.

You can also refer the matter to and LVT if you really don't see any justification for the work or if they invoice you and they haven't followed statutory consultation procedures.
I would suggest that in the first instance you send an urgent e mail to the Director of Housing stating that they don't appear to have followed statutory consultation procedures will they be happy to accept the £250 payment you are obliged to make.

They may say they have written to you - they only need to prove having written the letter - service by first class post is deemed an acceptable method of service.

Check out the website Lease - that has very useful information

**Upsy_Daisy**

PS - don't rmove the tiles - they may have recycled them from elsewhere in an effort to save you a few quid - it would have been polite to have informed you beforehand though if this is the case.
It doesn't really matter whether you think the job is needed or not - if their surveyor says it is needed then they will do it.
In most council leases they, as freeholders are responsible for the structure and exterior (including the roof) , you are just responsible for paying for it!

DVardysShadow

**Upsy_Daisy** wrote: »

There are strict guidelines on leasehold consultation - this is called Section 20 consultation in accordance with Section 20 of the Commonhold and Leasehold reform Act 2002

Letter 1 Notice of Intention - 30 days consultation - inviting WRITTEN observations

letter 2 - Notice of Estimates - advising details of estimates received and 30 days WRITTEN observations

If your Council hasn't sent you as a minimum these two letters then they haven't followed Section 20 consultation procedures and the maximum they can charge you for the job is £250.

Are you sure they haven't done this? - if so then in theory you can sit back and get £000's of work done for virtually nothing.

You can also refer the matter to and LVT if you really don't see any justification for the work or if they invoice you and they haven't followed statutory consultation procedures.
I would suggest that in the first instance you send an urgent e mail to the Director of Housing stating that they don't appear to have followed statutory consultation procedures will they be happy to accept the £250 payment you are obliged to make.

They may say they have written to you - they only need to prove having written the letter - service by first class post is deemed an acceptable method of service.

Check out the website Lease - that has very useful information

Might it be better to let the work continue in breach of procedure and just pay the £250? ie not make a big enough fuss that the procedure is followed and the work done anyway?