Contract Law advice

Barney_Grumble

Can anyone give me an insight into the finer points of UK contract law? Seven years ago when purchasing my house I signed a contract which included a clause stating there may be a charge for cutting the grass on a small piece of communal land in the housing development. For six years there was no mention of this clause again and the land was maintained, I presume, at the developer's expense.
Then, just last year, the residents here received a bill seeking payment for three years worth of maintenance for this land. No-one to my knowledge paid and it was assumed the matter had been dropped. Then recently we received a further bill but this time seeking payment only for this year. Now my query is can this company seek any payment as the contractual clause was not invoked within a certain time frame and was the first bill seeking four years worth of payments an attempt to bring the matter back into that contractual time frame?
Any help as always would be greatly appreciated...

SaveMeTheMoney

I would say probably yes they can, but it depends on the lease. To get a better idea you are best speaking to a solicitor who can appraise themselves of all the facts and view all the management company documents and lease that you signed up to. That will contain all the rights of the landlord/management company in terms of a service charge.

drew2k9

i would agree with the above, i think they can ask for it. legal advice is the best route to take on this matter.

getzls

Now only seaking payement for one year? It may be a sucker to get you to pay and maybe then they can say, well you must agree then to further payments?:cool: Pay once and maybe they have got you.

SaveMeTheMoney

getzls wrote: »

Now only seaking payement for one year? It may be a sucker to get you to pay and maybe then they can say, well you must agree then to further payments?:cool: Pay once and maybe they have got you.

I don't think this is right. The lease will probably dictate payments and whether time is of the essence in regard to payment of service charge. Again, best to let a solicitor investigate and have full sight of the lease.