Please can anyone explain?

ddebil

Hi there! I'm hoping someone can explain to me something which my managing agent cannot do to my satisfaction.

I live in a block of 4 flats, one of which is owned by the managing agents, the others by individuals.

All the flats are of the same size and have been converted to one-bedroom flats, except mine, which has remained a bed-sitting room and a large separate kitchen.

When we pay our twice yearly service charges, I notice that my flat/bedsit pays 30% of the total and the remaining 3 flats share the balance of 70%.

Can someone tell me in simple terms why this is so, considering they are identical in size and I don't even have a separate bedroom?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

dd

Ladybird20

i would have thought you would pay a quater of the fee..i live in a block of 4 appartments and we all pay the same.....one of the appartments is a 1 bedroom mine is 2 bedroom and the other 2 above are duplex and much bigger appartments ,,and we all pay 90.00 pcm

mynameisdave

I think the only person that can answer that would be the agents.

I assume that you are required to have a breakdown, or at least entitled to have one, of where you fees goes.

I have one for my lease hold flat and I don't imagine it was given to me out of the goodness of the management companies heart.

Edit: Quick thought - are any of the flats self contained? They may not need to contribute to heating/lighting/cleaning of shared areas. Are you on the top floor and expected to contribute to window cleaning that ground foor properties do not?

Various reasons, but on the forum we can only speculate.

ddebil

Hi again and thanks for the replies.

Yep, we all get a breakdown and all the flats are self-contained. We all share in the communal lighting/cleaning etc. but my share is specified as 30%. That includes any repairs to the building or general decoration.
The managing agent says it's to do with the square metreage of the flat, but they are completely identical, except whereas I have a separate kitchen, the others have a bedroom. I'm on the first floor (the ground floor is a business premises) and we all clean our own windows, so I don't see that as relevant.
dd

theartfullodger

someone can explain to me something which my managing agent cannot do to my satisfaction.

Yup, I think I can do that... two possibilities,./...

a) S**t happens, life is like that..
b) Your solicitor should have spotted this and
i) Did & told you but you didnae notice & did 'owt about iy..
ii) Didn't and you could think about taking action against him: Consider: Are people usually successful suing solicitors?? No, I thought not either...

Cheers!

Lodger

princeofpounds

Your liability for service charges will be in your lease. This will explain it all, and it will be evident if something is wrong. It does not have to be a rational split, although it normally is.

Educate yourself at the government-funded independent advice service lease-advice.org.