leasehold flat service charges

ab634

Hi i have a leasehold flat which I own. I have had for about three years and since the maintenance contract has been taken over by another company (not our choice) the charges since I bought the property have increase 50%.From £600 to over a thousand pound to clean windows etc but we never see them clean them etc should they let us know when they have cleaned the windows or cut the grass why should I pay for service that I have no evidence they have done anything. At the end of the year they said we had incurred charges over the two blocks of flats but didn't say what we complained and they went quiet then put it on the bill this year I feel i am paying a stupid amount for a terrible service they have upped the insurance on the bill a great deal due to floods though we never go flooded but we are near a river any help appreciated thanks

propertyman

why should I pay for service that I have no evidence they have done anything.

Can you see out of your windows, is the grass 4 feet tall, if not, then that is evidence they do something:cool:.

Flood claims have increased the level of premiums across the board, not just areas at risk.,

If you are unhappy ask the MA to explain the frequency of the services that you see, and when they were last out put to tender. You can then monitor if they are doing them to that frequency and standard.

At the end of the year you have the right to inspect the invoices and check the work done vs the bills.

ipswich

Hi! We had the Peveral/Solitaire/OM monster as our management. Took our 39 leasehold flats (5 blocks) to the LVT. LVT not happy with us as a single company, but allowed 1 block through. SO worth it as annual OM fees were £1350 per flat and we got this down to £200! Off to the solicitors now to get the rest through. Laws are basically great to be able to do this, but government needs to tighten up on the Laws that allow OM to delay refunding our own money to us - still waiting for our Reserve Fund 5 months later! Shouldn't have to go to Court to get this back but might have to. xx

kiwi07

ab634 wrote: »

Hi i have a leasehold flat which I own. I have had for about three years and since the maintenance contract has been taken over by another company (not our choice) the charges since I bought the property have increase 50%.From £600 to over a thousand pound to clean windows etc but we never see them clean them etc should they let us know when they have cleaned the windows or cut the grass why should I pay for service that I have no evidence they have done anything. At the end of the year they said we had incurred charges over the two blocks of flats but didn't say what we complained and they went quiet then put it on the bill this year I feel i am paying a stupid amount for a terrible service they have upped the insurance on the bill a great deal due to floods though we never go flooded but we are near a river any help appreciated thanks

Much much is your service charge? I pay £92,25 a month and my management company does virtually nothing, the windows always dirty, the halls are not cleaned good enough. I complained about it when we had an annual meeting but nothing changed. The main problem is a service charge and having a service charge deficit in the end of every financial year. This time they want every resident to pay £160. Its makes almost £1300 for a year which is very expensive for the job they do.

tim123456789

propertyman wrote: »

Can you see out of your windows, if not, then that is evidence they do something.

How so?

My windows haven't been cleaned in the 2 years since I have been here yet they barely have a scrap of dirt on them.

I know that you have previously been sceptical of self cleaning glass but mine seems to work perfectly well (even bird mess washes itself off after a couple of weeks)

tim

ankspon

Ours has gone up from £18 in 07 to £62 now.The cleaner and gardeners call regularly but the window cleaner does not do the communal windows.

tim123456789

ipswich wrote: »

Hi! We had the Peveral/Solitaire/OM monster as our management. Took our 39 leasehold flats (5 blocks) to the LVT. LVT not happy with us as a single company, but allowed 1 block through. SO worth it as annual OM fees were £1350 per flat and we got this down to £200! Off to the solicitors now to get the rest through. Laws are basically great to be able to do this, but government needs to tighten up on the Laws that allow OM to delay refunding our own money to us - still waiting for our Reserve Fund 5 months later! Shouldn't have to go to Court to get this back but might have to. xx

There is case law that says that a number of block may RTM together (and guess what, Peveral were the losing complainant).

But TBH, if you have got your charges down from 1350 to 200 pa it can only be because you are skimping on what is being done, not necessarily to everyone's benefit