Ground Maintenance Fees - Justified?

danp96

Hi all,

First post here! Need advice on a ground maintenance issue i'm disputing.

Purchased a new build in December 2017 - with that there is a annual fee I am required to pay to Vivid Homes for the maintenance of the estate. Firstly, I have not seen any evidence of what they do, secondly I am sure that I am only required to start paying the fees once the estate has been completed by the developer? They are yet to tarmac the road which our house leads onto (exposed drain covers etc)

Our original plans were clear that it would be a one way system in the road which hasn't been done either. Developer isn't interested and has packed up and moved on to their next venture.

Am I over reacting to this or do I genuinely have rights here? I don't feel I should pay any fees to anybody until the original works have been completed to the spec that I signed and paid for?

Thanks in advance,

Dan

TELLIT01

Your argument seems logical, but the only way to prove it is to refuse to pay and give your reasons. See what happens.

stator

You can't just make up reasons to not pay, if your lease or deeds say you have to pay, then you have to pay

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Maybe this thread could be moved to the House Buying, Renting and Selling Board?

I think the management company have to provide information on request showing how the money is being spent but there's more knowledgeable posters on the other board.

troffasky

If it's a service charge then it has to be demanded in a prescribed form, otherwise it's not due. That's not exactly a long-lasting defence, however.


You refer to something you signed but haven't quoted any of it here so not really much advice anyone can give you.

HampshireH

Have you checked the grounds maintenance fees arent estate wide. This means maintaining any borders, small grass verges etc, play parks potentially on the estate. And may be £ ÷ number of properties per annum.

Dottydilly

Is your property freehold or leasehold? If freehold and this is an estate rent charge tread very carefully. Ensure that you pay every demand in full. Sell the house asap. Rent charges give the rent charge owner much more power than leasehold service charge. Loads of new builds houses have estate rent charges now and the lenders are wising up. Nationwide already refuse to lend on them, the other lenders will follow soon.