increased payment for communal space upkeep

Grimbal

We live on an ten year old estate, the (freehold) buildings of which all have a covenant to pay in an annual fee to cover upkeep of communal grounds.

Last year, without any warning & without any dialogue between the residents & the builders/company appointed by them, the fee tripled from £40-odd pa to over £120 pa.

Although we're not necessarily concerned by the figure itself, we are concerned that this increase has been demanded of us without any way the residents can request any sort of input. The builders brought in the land management company & the land management company have provided the builders with a bill that is then passed on to the residents.

We're worried about possible future implications where these two companies are effectively able to demand whatever annual payment that they see fit, without any sort of involvement by the householders. Can anyone provide any advice on what we can do to get them to listen to us as they have not responded to our letters or emails.

TIA

frugal_mike

What does the covenant say regarding how much you must pay? Does it allow for an increase?

hollydays

Also ,might it help to set up a residents committee?

paddyrg

Management companies have a laugh - they can charge what they can get away with, choose the builders, pay what they like (and take whatever kickbacks they like too).

You need to self-manage via a residents committee, or accept that you stand a good chance of getting hosed by whichever management company manage the property 'on your behalf'