E & M annual transfer fees

Careyb

I own a leasehold flat which I rent out. To be able to do this I complied with all the requirements attached to the leasehold, seeking permission and paying the relevant fee. The existing and only tenant, commenced her 5 year tenancy in 2013. In Dec 2018 I was contacted by Estates and Management requesting a transfer fee of £98 and a renewal fee of £65. As this is a rolling tenancy I was surprised to be told that I also owe them £467 which amounts to an annual transfer fee for every year of the tenancy.
As anyone else had this experience

Slithery

Please quote in full the relevant terms from your lease. We can't read them from here.

eddddy

Careyb wrote: »

As this is a rolling tenancy I was surprised to be told that I also owe them £467 which amounts to an annual transfer fee for every year of the tenancy.
As anyone else had this experience

As a starting point, you can ask the management co which clause in the lease requires you to pay this fee.

If the lease says a fee is payable (but doesn't mention the amount), the law says the fee must be reasonable.

i.e. The fee must reflect the amount of work that the management co has to do.

So you could ask the management co for a breakdown of the work they do, in return for the £467.


Edit to add...

But sometimes it's best to pay the fee - but making it clear that you are paying under protest - and then challenge it.

Otherwise late fees and solicitors fees might be added. And if it turns out that the annual fee is 'reasonable', you'll then have to pay the late fees and solicitors fees.