Leasehold issue - setting up RTA

kjl26

I wondered if anyone could offer any advice on how to set up a recognised tenants' association of leaseholders. My partner and I own the leasehold of a flat in a building of three, and we have been served with a notice that the freeholder, via their managing agent, want to do a load of repairs adding up to a substantial sum of money for us. We would like to appoint our own surveyor to check out if any of this is necessary (as we don't think much of it is), and I understand from https://www.lease-advice.org that we need to be a recognised tenants' association to do so.

There isn't much info about how to set one up, but I understand that we must serve a notice on the freeholder telling him of our intentions, and when (if) he replies this will constitute the 'recognition' bit. However, I don't know what we need to include in the letter or how we need to go about it (or even if there are any special things we need to do to become a tenants association in the first place). Can anyone help? Also can we do it with just two thirds of the leaseholders (The other is absent/uncontactable).

Thanks in advance
Katie