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Management agency taking the P
VfM4meplse
Posts: 34,269 Forumite
I own a leasehold on a flat that I lease out through a letting agent.
In November 2009, the agent notified me that some reconstruction work was required, with photographic evidence. I advised the management agency acting on behalf of the freeholder asap - albeit by telephone call, and nothing was done. At that stage all I asked was confirmation that this was indeed the freeholder's responssibility, as I didn't want to undertake the work if it were against the terms of the lease. Fast fwd 10 months and still nothing, the management agency when pushed couldn't tell me either way as they didn't have the lease. So I agreed to furnish them with a copy w/o charge.
May 2011 - still nothing, but when I pressed the management agency they said the work would be completed by the end of this month. Unsurprisingly, this committment seems unlikely to materialise.
What is bothering me is the management fee that the agency is passing on to me. As far as I am concerned, there has been no maintenenance to the property in 2010 whatsoever, in fact no-one from the agency as much as set foot in the property during that time. Any legwork undertaken has been my own, in my own time and at my own cost.
I realise that management agencies will proportion costs out to leaseholders pro-rata, but am irked that I they seem able to charge what they like without seeing any evidence of work undertaken , let alone any satisfaction with the maintenance issue first raised 20 months ago. Unsurprisingly, the accounts dept couldn't justify the charge either.
Has anyone been in this position? Can you tell me whether I have any right to withold payment for 2010, on the basis that no tangible work has been undertaken, and a failure to respond to a basic query in that year? Any advice would be gratefully received.
VfM
In November 2009, the agent notified me that some reconstruction work was required, with photographic evidence. I advised the management agency acting on behalf of the freeholder asap - albeit by telephone call, and nothing was done. At that stage all I asked was confirmation that this was indeed the freeholder's responssibility, as I didn't want to undertake the work if it were against the terms of the lease. Fast fwd 10 months and still nothing, the management agency when pushed couldn't tell me either way as they didn't have the lease. So I agreed to furnish them with a copy w/o charge.
May 2011 - still nothing, but when I pressed the management agency they said the work would be completed by the end of this month. Unsurprisingly, this committment seems unlikely to materialise.
What is bothering me is the management fee that the agency is passing on to me. As far as I am concerned, there has been no maintenenance to the property in 2010 whatsoever, in fact no-one from the agency as much as set foot in the property during that time. Any legwork undertaken has been my own, in my own time and at my own cost.
I realise that management agencies will proportion costs out to leaseholders pro-rata, but am irked that I they seem able to charge what they like without seeing any evidence of work undertaken , let alone any satisfaction with the maintenance issue first raised 20 months ago. Unsurprisingly, the accounts dept couldn't justify the charge either.
Has anyone been in this position? Can you tell me whether I have any right to withold payment for 2010, on the basis that no tangible work has been undertaken, and a failure to respond to a basic query in that year? Any advice would be gratefully received.
VfM
Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!
"No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio
Hope is not a strategy
...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
"No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio
Hope is not a strategy
...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!0
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