Dealing with rubbish maintainance agent

m0bov

Hi all, not strictly buying but I recently got keys to my place. The Freeholder also owns the agent, I knew they we're slow and a "bit rubbish" but the vendor did manage to get some stuff done to keep me sweet during the purchase.

I have e-mailed a few issues and last week, wrote a letter and posted it. They have not refused to do any work, they say they will chase the contractor, or look into it. Things like worn grass where people should'nt park, blown bulb in lobby, some loose DPC, missing brick in garden border wall and asking for a few improvements like extra lightening and no parking signs. There is also leaking guttering a recently noticed.

I've been waiting since Jan for the loose DPC issue and two weeks for the bulb. How can I apply pressure?? I've not had any request from them to pay ground rent but they know me as the new leaseholder (new lease).

Any ideas? :beer:

G_M

The more you ask them to do, the more your service charge will go up (next year) - bear that in mind!

How many flats in the building? Is self-management an option (if enough leaseholders request this, they have the right - see below)?

By 'agent', do you mean the management company?

I'd probobly change the bulb and stick in a replacement brick myself - hardly rocket science!

More here:
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/documents/document.asp?item=14

m0bov

G_M wrote: »

The more you ask them to do, the more your service charge will go up (next year) - bear that in mind!

How many flats in the building? Is self-management an option (if enough leaseholders request this, they have the right - see below)?

By 'agent', do you mean the management company?

I'd probobly change the bulb and stick in a replacement brick myself - hardly rocket science!

More here:
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/documents/document.asp?item=14

So what am I paying a fee every 6 months for?

G_M

So what am I paying a fee every 6 months for?

If you don't know, how are we supposed to know?!

I'm afraid I don't have a copy of your block maintenance agreement in front of me. Nor the accounts for last year showing what was spent on what!

But as a leaseholder, that is what you should be referring to.

I have no idea whether the 'agent' (still unclear what you mean) is responsible for gardening (grass); Or responsible for parking; They may or may not be. If they are not, it is clearly unreasonable to ask them to do something! If they are, then exactly what?

Same with the dpc. Is this routine maintenance and are they responsible? Or is it a bigger job requiring aditional funding? If so, does the block have a contingency fund to draw on? Or will a one-off charge be required on all lease-holders?

No one here can answer for you, but these are the sorts of questions to be looking into. Hav you discussed the managemnt with other flat owners?