HA and Service Charge

ameldridge

Hello,

I purchased a 40% share in a 2 bedroom flat from a Housing Association back in 2005, then when the local house prices seem to bottom out I brought the remaining 60% completing in November 2009.

I've had the property on the market for a few months now and the viewing feedback from my estate agents is that the monthly service charge was much greater than similar properties (there are a 100 or so) on the same estate so these buyers (mainly investment buyers) brought these other properties.

To cut a long story short, the Housing Association have eventually admitted that I, and my neighbours, have been overcharged with the following explanation:-

"I’ve compared our service charge estimate with the invoices received from the management company and it appears that we have over estimated the management agent charge. Basically we used the invoices paid in 08/09 to set the estimates for 10/11 and if the management company’s financial year is different to *** it can mean that 2 service charge invoices can be paid in the same financial year."

Also, when completed, I should have be paying the Management company direct and I thought this was the case so canceled the direct debit but shortly after received a letter from the HA stating I was in arrears so after a phone call to them re-instated the direct debit. This is also a mistake as the HA have replied with:-

"The Leasehold Team are currently dealing with a query raised by your solicitors and they have identified that you have been paying the management company directly from when you purchased 100% of the property. This was referred to a manager at the start of the year, who left unexpectedly, and it doesn’t appear that your account was updated. I can only apologise for this."

The HA are sorting out a refund but my argument with them is that these two mistakes (which they have admitted to in e-mails) have "possibly" cost me a sale on my property so do you believe it's worth pursuing some kind of compensation from them?

Thanks in advance...

BitterAndTwisted

What actual monetary losses have you incurred to date?

ameldridge

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

What actual monetary losses have you incurred to date?

None I guess, see where you're coming from though

I'm just annoyed this overcharge has been ongoing for at least a year now and that I should have been paying the management company directly, this would have meant my monthly service charge be around the going mark of £60-70 instead of the current £118!

Cheers...