Moved out 2 months ago, now a bill from Housing Association

LocVez

We recently sold 50% of a shared ownership property that we had with the housing association, we sold out share in full, they retained their 50%

After a few days of moving out, we received a cheque from the housing association for rent and fees we had overpaid.

Now, 2 months later, we have received a bill for the following:
CHARGE PERIOD : 01/04/2010 to 30/06/2010
Building insurance (quarterly) @ £5.50
Power Charges 2008-2009 @ £144.92 - YES! 2008-2009!
Building insurance (quarterly) @ £8.16 - YES! A second quarterly insurance charge in 1 the space of 2 months.
Renew Missing Tiles @ £80 - We lived on the ground floor......
Power Charges 2008-2009 @ 221.41 - YUP! Second power charge for 2008-2009, what is that all about?
Management fee @ 10.58

TOTAL : 470.57

First, i'm astonished that they are trying to charge me twice for building insurance AND for a 2 year old power charge that we paid last year

Second, is this even legal? can they enforce any of this? They don't specify when the missing tiles were replaced but i'm 100% sure it was not before we moved out, we never saw any workmen in the area and nobody else in the block mentioned anything (everyone else is 60+ and retired)

Any advice is apreciated,

Thanks.

clutton_2

did your solicitor not finalise the management bills and rent when you sold your 50% ?

G_M

It's very simple. Either you paid these charges in full before or when you sold, or you didn't. If you didn't, then yes, they can claim and you should pay. If you did, then write and tell them, ideally enclosing receipts/bank statements whatever to prove it.

As for double charging - clearly you need to query this. Perhaps the charges are quarterly and there are two different quarters to pay and they have simply not made that clear. Or perhaps as you are suggesting they are double-charging when they shouldn't. Write and ask!

LocVez

clutton wrote: »

did your solicitor not finalise the management bills and rent when you sold your 50% ?

I'll give him a ring tomorrow and find out, i was under the impression that yes, everything was paid in full. This was also one of the terms of sale, that all rent and charges would be paid in full before the buyer moved in.

There was never any mention from the housing association about these charges before, during or after the sale, we even received a cheque back from the HA for charges and rent we had overpaid. (about £20-ish)

Thanks for the advice so far will check this thread again in the morning.

Zelie

If your solicitor can't shed any light then write to the HA asking them for the specific details of the charges. This may help you work out if it is something you have paid already and obviously if anything is dated after you sold up then you can query that.

G_M

Oh and re the tiles: you'd need to check the lease. Just because you are on the ground floor doesn't mean you aren't responsible for a share of the maintenance of the top half of the building.