Service charge adjustments after issue of certified accounts

Lunchbox

We purchased a flat in early 2015. We received the Certified Service charge accounts for 2015/16 last week (very late, due to numerous accounting issues. We still haven't received those for 2014/15 but that's another matter!).

The finalised accounts (certified by an accountant) show a large positive balance, almost half the years' service charge, which is being rebated. However, when we wrote as instructed in their letter,to claim the repayment, we were told that there had been further adjustments to the insurance component and that this would need to be deducted before the balance could be repaid. Can they do this? We're happy to pay whatever is due but we're sick of the constant excuses to delay finalising the issue.

tim123456789

This is life living in a flat


You have to pay what's due, you can't decide not to pay just because they "forgot" to tell you in a timely way. (though there are some reasons why you might not have to pay)


It's usual for accounts to be finalised a year in arrears.


You're lucky they have agreed to a rebate at. All most managers would just roll-over the excess not spent from an advanced payment into the next year (and hence make that years request for advanced payment smaller)




tim

Lunchbox

As I said, I'm absolutely happy to pay what's due. What I'm not happy about is to be told there's a deficit, then there's a surplus, then there's a deficit, wo months passing between each response. The accounts were inspected by the residents association a few months ago and were a complete mess. As I also said, the 2014-2015 accounts are now almost at the two year point and still haven't been finalised. They are due 6 months post year end as specified in the lease.

I'm not looking for excuses 'not to pay', I just want to know at what point we can consider things are actually final.