Freehold Management Company

greatcrested

As others have said, the answer is (probably, depending on the Articles/legal set-up) a two step process

1) challange/change the Director(s). For this you need

a) support from (probably) a majority of shareholders

b) One or two willing volunteers to take on the role (you?)

c) to know when the AGM is due and how it works

d) the rules in the Articles regarding calling an EGM earlier than the AGM

2) Once you have control of the Freehold Managing Company you can either

a) amend/enforce the activities of the agent company, or

b) cancel their contract and appoint another better one, or

d) cancel their contract, invest in a lawn mower, and manage the land yourselves (if the Articles allow)

Grumpy_chap

There is a limit as to how high the costs can be to maintain a garden 20x20m and a gravel parking area of similar size.  It is also prudent if the company charges a bit extra each year so there is an accrual to cover the eventuality of a larger bill arising, maybe utility services cross the shared land, at some future point rather than a shock to the system at that future time.

Are the charges reasonable in the light of the above?  If so, just pay them.

Are the charges a large sum in absolute terms, or quite small really?  If quite small, it may be easiest to just pay and not have the stress.

OR, put yourself forward as a Director of the Managing Company and take more direct involvement and deal with the gripes form the other residents.

[Deleted User]

I live in a purpose built flats x 4, with the land own by the flats.. We deal with things ourselves, have 2 x meetings a year to talk about what or if maintence needed. We have a flat owner who deals with and looks after the accounts, me as im the only owner that lives in the building do the maintence if i can. (it was agreed i pay less monthly due to having to use my eletric, water etc)
The other 2 are kept in the loops what going on and needs.
We do have our disagreements with each others.. but it work both ways. No work etc can be undertaking untill agreed by all, so if 1 person don't agree.. then it go back to the table to try and resolved. Each flat pay little as 30 a month.. i pay less
if we went to an agent i expect it be triple this. They prob won't do much eithier..  Take control yourself... yes time consuming, but then you are in control, can see where the money going, choose who to do the jobs and get quotes.. choose a cheaper insurance.. list goes on.. 
We built an extention on ours, we need premisson from all flat owners, and like you had an area not being used next to our garden. We offered to buy it but turns out the company was not allowed to make a profit or something, so the flat owners agreed to gives us a bit extra land to use as a garden if we paid the legal fees. (The extra land belong to our flat not me, before was a bin area to all flats) I think if an agent was dealing with the managment company i dare say they would somehow make money from us.

andyroo19

Thanks all for the feedback, it’s been incredibly helpful. Unfortunately, no one else is willing to do anything except moan across the fence, so looks like things will be staying as they are for the time being.

princeofpounds

If you are standing as a director and are prepared to do the work, literally all they need to do is turn up (or proxy if possible) at a GM, and vote. If they are that apathetic then it's a shame.

andyroo19

princeofpounds said:

If you are standing as a director and are prepared to do the work, literally all they need to do is turn up (or proxy if possible) at a GM, and vote. If they are that apathetic then it's a shame.

I don’t think it’s apathy so much as the director being an absolute nightmare to deal with. The last time we had an AGM—years ago, she doesn’t have them any more—she was staring at people, kicked out under the table and at one point shrieked maniacally. It sounds like nonsense but it’s true! Previously, someone else was director and she was harassing them all day with emails about every last thing. She has also been known to target individuals and bully them. So now she’s director and no one else wants anything to do with it. Problem is she’s hired a managing agent that’s got a reputation for, let’s say, replacing things that can be repaired and finding the most expensive people to do it. It seems the only option I have is to become a director as well and put up with the onslaught. Yeesh. All this over a tiny plot of land!