Are these acceptable Service Charge expenses?

tizzle6560

Being in a leasehold flat of 3 in a house conversion, the requisite service charges are part of the package.

My question is, are the following 'anticipated' expenses acceptable:

- Electricity £300 (to operate 2 timer lights in the hallway?! Seems rather steep!)
- Electricity Repairs £300 (the lights work absolutely fine)
Landscaping £840 (to mow a tiny patch of lawn at the front of the property?) I'll also add that I know for a fact the gardener they use charges £40 per visit to our property and has visited no more than 6 times in the last 12 months = £240

I feel like the management company are simply attributing costs where possible just to be seen to be utilising our annual charges..

Any advice would be great. Cheers

pinkpiglit

Do the flat owners not oversee the management company?

I admit it does seem a bit expensive.

Gonzo1987

if there is a management company involved their fees will also need to be paid, and buildings insurance. Have these been broken down too? Is there window cleaning? gutters maintenance? a sinking fund?

PlutoinCapricorn

Yes, it does seem excessive. You are entitled to query the amounts, ask to see electricity bills and ask whether they have obtained quotes for the garden maintenance to get the best deal.

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

antrobus

tizzle6560 wrote: »

....
Any advice would be great. Cheers

Leaseholders have rights to challenge service charges that they feel are unreasonable at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

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

Edit: Somebody beat me to it.:)

tizzle6560

pinkpiglit wrote: »

Do the flat owners not oversee the management company?

I admit it does seem a bit expensive.

Thanks for your reply. Of the 3 flats I am the only one who owns and resides in mine, the other 2 are rented and both of the other leaseholders are also significantly behind on there service charge payments anyway.

The management company had started proceedings to recover this money although this could take months... Meanwhile this also means that any works that are required are effectively put on hold until the funds are recovered.

Now I'm tempted not to pay mine until there is more clarity on both the anticipated charges as well as the situation with the other leaseholders. Or would you all advise not to do so?

tizzle6560

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

Yes, it does seem excessive. You are entitled to query the amounts, ask to see electricity bills and ask whether they have obtained quotes for the garden maintenance to get the best deal.

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

They have asked for a meter reading to that they can then 'search for the best deal'

They said they are going to put our a tender to local gardening companies for the best quote, but what are the options if I tell them I can do it myself? I already maintain the whole rear garden which is solely ours, so let them deduct that £840 from my future service charges and I'll do it gladly!

tizzle6560

Gonzo1987 wrote: »

if there is a management company involved their fees will also need to be paid, and buildings insurance. Have these been broken down too? Is there window cleaning? gutters maintenance? a sinking fund?

The management fees in this are quite ominously £666..
General repairs - an additional £1,000 (although repairs are needed)
Bank Charges - £70
Health & Safety - £250

These are in addition to the ones ive already raised in the opening post.

thanks

PlutoinCapricorn

The garden sounds like a sensible suggestion. Some of my neighbours have painted the corridors themselves to save costs.

Reue

tizzle6560 wrote: »

They said they are going to put our a tender to local gardening companies for the best quote, but what are the options if I tell them I can do it myself? I already maintain the whole rear garden which is solely ours, so let them deduct that £840 from my future service charges and I'll do it gladly!

Surely the obvious solution then is to submit a bid of £1 for yourself to win the tender?

tizzle6560

Reue wrote: »

Surely the obvious solution then is to submit a bid of £1 for yourself to win the tender?

Well I was thinking more along the lines of letting them deduct the anticipated landscaping fees from my service charge bill!