Shock Housing Association maintenance charge

RedRhino2016

No consultation: this letter is the first thing I've ever heard from this HA. I bought the house some twenty years ago, and have never paid any kind of maintenance fees.

I'll be checking the deeds as soon as I can.

Thanks all!

RedRhino2016

I'm looking at the deeds now.

The purchaser has a right to:

"Park one motor vehicle only in the parking bay [shown on plan] if a parking space is available subject to the payment of a fair proportion of the cost of maintaining such parking bay in proper repair and condition and well and sufficiently drained."

That's pretty clear, isn't it?

theartfullodger

So 20 or so years and no bills:

Assuming 20 years, £500 would be £25/year on average: £1000 would be £50/year on average.

Me, I'd not argue - but expect to see a breakdown of total costs.

Marktheshark

How many other flats are owned in the block.
You can sack the agent with co-operation of the other owners, especially if you see the work as unnecessary.

G_M

Marktheshark wrote: »

You can sack the agent with co-operation of the other owners, especially if you see the work as unnecessary.

OP owns freehold.

RedRhino2016

@theartfullodger

So 20 or so years and no bills:

Assuming 20 years, £500 would be £25/year on average: £1000 would be £50/year on average.

Me, I'd not argue - but expect to see a breakdown of total costs.

Yes, one probably wouldn't object to a £50/year bill. But for all I know they'll be levying charges whenever they feel like it from now on.

I definitely want to hold them to account to make sure this is value for money.

I'd be interested know how long the HA has owned the land and how these works were paid for when the council owned it.

patman99

For £162k I would expect the entire carpark to be dug up and replaced, new street lights installed and a security gate installed and still get change of £62k.

Mind you, HAs are a soft target for contractors as they see them as cash-cows so charge way over the odds for any work they undertake.

I would ask the HA for a full breakdown of the works being undertaken and then get a couple of quotes myself. You might be abe to save the HA (and yourself) some money.

RedRhino2016

@patman99

For £162k I would expect the entire carpark to be dug up and replaced, new street lights installed and a security gate installed and still get change of £62k.

I'd have literally no idea what would be a reasonable quote!

It's not one big car park, but a number of small bays spread around the terraced houses. The one I'm allowed to use (according to the deeds) is just a bit of tarmac which fits ten cars.

mije1983

RedRhino2016 wrote: »

But for all I know they'll be levying charges whenever they feel like it from now on.

Why? What else does the deeds say you are liable for?

RedRhino2016

Sorry, I was being flippant, and I realise that's not helpful.

But the sums involved are concerning. Assuming that I'm paying a "fair proportion" of the car park I'm allowed to use, it sounds like they want to spend up to £10,000 resurfacing an area just big enough for ten cars. Or am I looking at this wrong?

Is there anything to require this company to engage with me if I question their plans? Is there a body they're accountable to?