Freehold...can we sack maintenance company

jamie35

Hi everyone I currently own my flat under a free hold as do the 6 other flats in my block....The maintenance company have been putting the moneys up annually unfairly under projected costs and basically do nothing for the moneys they want apart from cut the front lawn to the block. I have lived here for 8yrs and have watched the block deteriorate. I am the last live in owner tenant and all other flats have been bought now as buy to lets.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to whether we can sack them and put out to tender for another company??Do I need to get the 5 other flats in agreement?

many thanks

Jamie

PlutoinCapricorn

Definitely freehold? Flats are usually leasehold. I thought that freeholders usually set up their own maintenance companies.

shopbot

Who instructed the Management Company to act on your behalf in first place? There should have been an agreement signed at that time. I'm sure termination of contract would be detailed in the paperwork.

You should also look at self managing. You will make a substantial saving over paying someone to do it for you.

SB

PlutoinCapricorn

This applies to freehold houses, but might be useful for background reading:

http://arma.org.uk/downloader/f15.pdf

ryder72

Yes its possible. As I understand it, there are two ways you can do it.

Either you buy the freehold from the freeholder and each leaseholder gets an equal share in the company that owns the freeholder. YOu can then manage it yourself or appoint a management company to undertake maintenance.

Alternatively you use the Right to Manage route. Under this . Under this piece of legislation, you need 50% of leaseholders to come together and force the freeholder to hand over the right to manage to you. You can then appoint a company of your choice.

The procedure is very straight forward. The problem is getting the numbers on your side.

PlutoinCapricorn

Service Charge questions usually go in the House Buying and Renting thread!