Share of Freeholders - Directors?

Nickflaks

Hi there

My partner and I have just brought our first flat (Share of Freehold), and the previous owner said that as Director of the management company she was required to pay £50 a month into a kitty (along with the Directors from the other flats, which goes towards buildings insurance, upkeep of communal areas, etc)

We purchased the flat under the impression that we would also be required to pay £50 a month into this kitty. However one of the Directors is advising that (because the freehold is in both our names) we must both become Directors and pay £100 a month (equating to £50 a month EACH).

I want to ask if it necessary that BOTH my partner and I become directors, and each pay into the kitty every month? Is it possible for just one of us to be allocated as a director (if the mortgage is in both our names)?

Thanks in advance.

flashg67

Can you see the accounts and see which/how much each properties pay? Is it self managed or is there an appointed professional managing agent - I'd ask them instead of taking the word of one director.

It does sound unusual - ours is a payment per property, regardless of how many are on the mortgage / live there, which seems a random & harsh way of apportioning payments. I can't envisage how 2 people or more in a property would be adding to the wear & tear of the freehold buildings any more than a single occupant - very strange!

eddddy

If it's for service charges, it would be more sensible for the cost to be allocated to the leaseholders according to the 'formula' described in their leases.

(Was this scheme devised by somebody with a vested interest - e.g. The person with the biggest flat, and whose lease requires them to pay a biggest percentage of the service charge?)

And if you and your partner both pay £50 - what would that extra £600 per year be used for?