Live-in landlords vs rental tenants in freehold block of flats

Guest101

Househelp100 wrote: »

"You are allowed to contact the LL's managing agent, that's what they're there for, to manage the tenancy. - They don't however manage the leasehold, which is the point."

I'm so sorry - i'm not deliberately being difficult but i don't understand - when can i contact the letting agency to approach issues with the tenants and when do i have to speak directly to the landlord? - In your role as freeholder, not fellow resident, your contact should really be only with the LL, you should only contact the letting agent if you are trying to reach the LL. You should not discuss or attempt to discuss the tenancy in anyway. Whatever happens you have no contract with the tenant.

"why not just introduce yourself and then say "actually this is the recycling. nappies need to go into this one." and see what happens from there?"

I have done this. My neighbours have done this. They have had a call from the letting agency. The flat seems to be overcrowded and the tenants don't speak good English so don't seem to understand well. I have walked them through (patiently), as has my neighbour. Problem persisted so we have had to get these cleared privately a number of times and now locks put on them. - and the cost should be passed onto the leaseholder, the LL. This is one of the frustrations of having to sort this and pay for it even though we aren't responsible.

But you shouldn't pay for it, the leaseholder should

NeilCr

I suspect I may be unpopular here but....

Get a management company in. As you guys are the freeholders you will have much more control than someone else holding the freehold. We agree budgets, negotiate their fees etc etc. I've been a director of a 15 flat block and am now doing the same with a 69 property estate. They may (or may not!) save you money but they certainly save you a lot of hassle

In my experience, while not great at somethings, they are good at a) collecting money and b) knowing the laws and rules! I'd bother that you (as we would) could be missing things like inspections, up to date law changes

We have had some success with writing to (not emailing) absentee landlords and owners who live on our estate where we have identified that the issue is coming from that property. We explain that there will be a cost that will be passed on to them if we have to take action. I'd agree with others about the rats not necessarily being caused by that particular property

The other thing I'd say is that you just can't get some people to do the things the way you want. Annoying that it is, you can spend a lot of time and angst getting worked up about it but it just passes them by. I've learnt that, sometimes, it's better to sort it yourself - I know you shouldn't have to but life is too short to spend endless hours getting stressed by parking, bins

Good luck wit it. I completely understand the frustrations - I'd still say get a managing agent in