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Council house purchase - continued service charges.

Clipster
Clipster Posts: 2 Newbie
First Anniversary
in House buying, renting & selling
After buying my council house in 2014 I have received a yearly bill for 'Neighbourhood services'. This year I decided to question what exactly I was paying for. It seems the charges are for Caretaking, Grounds Maintenance and Management. My property (a semi detached) does not benefit in any way from this charge and it would seem I am subsidising the council flats the other side of a busy road from me which the council argues is part of my estate. Do you think there is any point trying to argue my point or do I have to just pay up and shut up? Does anybody know of any legal precedent I could use to get out of this charge? I am way out of my depth on this, I asked for a breakdown of the charges relating to my property and received a general letter with nothing specific on it. I am now stuck, because I questioned the invoice they have also decided to charge me for 18 months instead of 12 to add insult to injury!! Any input on this will be gratefully received, thanks for your time.

Comments

  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    It's probably in your titles so you probably have to pay. Didn't your solicitors mention this at the time you bought?
  • 00ec25
    00ec25 Posts: 9,123 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    read your purchase paperwork - it will be explained in there
  • harrys_dad
    harrys_dad Posts: 1,997 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Presumably before you bought these services were included in your rent. Now you are an owner you are expected to pay, although I agree with the poster who said this should have been spelled out to you during the purchase process, not least by your solicitor.

    Hopefully you still have some of your discount left and can pay it out of that.
  • Clipster
    Clipster Posts: 2 Newbie
    First Anniversary
    Thanks for the quick replies. Yes the payment was mentioned in the title deeds and was probably mentioned by the solicitor that I used. I guess my argument is that I do not use or benefit from any of the services they claim to provide. When I purchased the house in 2014 the charges were £88, this year they are £120 so was hoping to get out of this charge. Again, thanks for your wisdom and I guess I'll pay the revised invoice when it arrives.
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