Misinformed about service charge :(

ilikepancakes

bouicca21 wrote: »

Your expectations of accuracy from the EA are unrealistic.

Yesterday I called other agency that is selling other flat in the nearby bvuilding and asked for the service charge. They replied to me straight away with figure of £2588.

So is it realistic to get the service charge plus-minus £100 from the party who want to sell the flat?

ilikepancakes

AdrianC wrote: »

You aren't the EA's client. The vendor is.

And the EA has simply passed on what the vendor told them.

Ok, so if I pulled out (or ask for a discount) now it should not be a surprise for the vendor as they lied, correct?

AdrianC

ilikepancakes wrote: »

Yesterday I called other agency that is selling other flat in the nearby bvuilding and asked for the service charge. They replied to me straight away with figure of £2588.

So is it realistic to get the service charge plus-minus £100 from the party who want to sell the flat?

And I think you're missing the point everybody is making...

The EA is merely the vendor's conduit and mouthpiece. I bet the conversation went something like this... "So, Mr Vendor, do you know how much the service charge is?" "Umm, not offhand, but I think it's about a couple of grand a year."

It is your solicitor's job to provide accurate figures and confirm everything. They have done their job, and told you the accurate figure for the service charge.

ilikepancakes

Ok Adrian, please tell me at what level of service charge you think I could complain?

"It is your solicitor's job to provide accurate figures and confirm everything."

So my solicitor confirmed that service charge is not what I was told. Is it a good reason to pull out or ask for reduction? Apparently not

babyblade41

This has gone beyond bonkers now !!!

davidmcn

ilikepancakes wrote: »

I think people here do not take my point.

I think you're not taking the point which several of us have made, i.e. the service charge is variable, so the current exact figure only really means anything today, it's not the amount you'll be paying "for the rest of your life". Even if it were currently £2000, it could increase shortly after you complete the purchase. Next year it could be £3000. Or it might come back down to £2000.

You are of course free to negotiate as you see fit, but don't be surprised if the vendor or the EA view you as a flakey FTB who doesn't really understand what they're doing and may be too much hassle to deal with, or gets awkward about the next "surprise" down the line.

AdrianC

ilikepancakes wrote: »

Ok Adrian, please tell me at what level of service charge you think I could complain?

At whatever you think unreasonable for the services provided. You cannot view the figure in isolation. £200/mo for a development with private gym and pool does not sound at all excessive, tbh. You could easily pay a substantial chunk of that just for gym/pool membership elsewhere, without the convenience.

"It is your solicitor's job to provide accurate figures and confirm everything."

So my solicitor confirmed that service charge is not what I was told. Is it a good reason to pull out or ask for reduction? Apparently not

That's entirely up to you. Nobody else can make that decision for you.

What people are saying to you is that the "misinformation" is not a deal-breaker in and of itself. Maybe the extra 20% above what you were led to believe is - that's up to you. Nor is the "misinformation" inevitably some terrible conspiracy to con you - ever heard of Occam's Razor?

Smodlet

This is beyond a joke... Then again, it is that time of year, folks.

Just in case this is real, for the nth time, OP:

1) The EA works for the vendor; you are not his/her client.

2) EAs lie for a living. Five minutes spent reading this board would tell you that. They lie, deliberately, about infinitely worse things than a few hundred quid on a service charge for a luxury flat: Try whether or not a house is standard construction!

You were not lied to; EAs make genuine mistakes as well.

SallyDucati

When I sold my flat last year the service charge was £1,200/year. This year it has apparently increased to £1,440 so a 20% increase. Are you saying the guy who bought my flat has a claim against me or my estate agent?

Service charges change, and can go down as well as up.

It seems like you are taking this personally. You've made your decision to go with it now, accept the charge and move on with the purchase/your life.

csgohan4

OP you can't afford a Flat, buy something without service charges

£400 difference is peanuts when you have to cough up for expensive roof/ elevator repairs etc