Chased by JB ...resulting from my property manager send invoice to a wrong address

kumlarr

I live in a Help to buy flat in Croydon since 2017 up until now. I own my flat. 
A few days ago I  recieved a letter from JB leitch asking me to  pay for overdue charges ( Ground Rent / Service Charge/ Insuracnces around £2500) plus their charge on top around £1100. So shocked,I was threathened by their words on taking me to court.  I tried to call my property management , namely  I.P.. They refused to talk to me and asked me to talk JB.... only. 

Reason for the overdue charges
Then I call JB ..... and found out my property manager accually did send the invoices to a wrong address. This address seems to be my previous address in central London. I lived six years ago before moving property permanently. Also I do not have any access this central London property any more.

Re the I.P property management, they have just come to manage my property recently since Sep 2019 . With them I have been recieved three letters sending correctly the right address I live at the moment, the Croydon flat.  
First letter : Sep 2019, they write to introduce themselves as a new property manager
Second letter: I recived this letter from them in  November 2019 asking me to pay for the remaining charges from the previous property management as they were trying to clear out the payment from previous property manager. On the letter it has shown my statement and with their bank detail for me to transfer the money. After receieving this letter , I acted upon it by paying the outstanding charge straightaway through their bank account stated on the letter. 

The last letter : it was on January 2020. The letter mentioned about the total service charge of the whole building. They said they will write to me later and tell me how much I have to pay from this total for my part. 
Since January 2020, I have not heard from them agian. Until a few day later I recieve a threatening letter from JB leitch. 

From these three letter , it seems that the property manager they really know my address and acknowledge that I live this address and I did act upon the invoice sent by to my address. I do not know why they sent the invoice to previous address in Central London. It seems that  this is not my fault at all. Had I seen the invoice, I would definitely pay it in timely manner.  

My questions are below : 
- What I have to do in this case? I called JB . I have been told that they will contact my property manager relating to this and they will write to me. Shall I trust them?
- Is there any chances that I can pay only £2500 the real charges , not a administration fee or other fees from JB. 
- I have 14 days to act upon the letter. I called JB already.  They said this will be okay now in terms of the 14 days window.  Can I trust them?
- I recently write an email to JB togerther with my property manager to explain that the invoices have sent to the wrong address. I have also tell them that I have a proof of letter that they used to send a statement  to the right address. 
- What if my I.P property does not accept their fault, what should I do? Can you guy suggest me a good dispute property lawyer?

Sorry for this long message but I am very worried. I hope someone can help or give me a contact of a dispute property lawyer just in case. 

diggingdude

I would be arguing they knew my address and offer to pay the £2500 within the 14 days. Can you afford to pay the full amount under protest to avoid more costs and then fight for the other money back? Sickening I know    mind you it they have sent you three other lettwrs to right address I wouldn't be too worried about court. But then I have never owned a leasehold so someone else would be along shortly. 

eddddy

Assuming, you agree that the £2,500 is payable, you should pay that.

Then write a letter (or email) to the management company explaining what you said on the phone - that they sent the service charge demand to the wrong address, even though they had your correct address.

And say that therefore, you don't believe that the fees of £1,100 are payable, and if they don't withdraw the fees, you will challenge them at a tribunal.

If you want, you can arrange a 15 min call to LEASE for free advice. See https://clients.lease-advice.org/Appointment/Appointment?isFireSafety=False 

Comms69

Presumably you knew it was due? But you've done nothing to chase it up?

cattie

Comms69 said:

Presumably you knew it was due? But you've done nothing to chase it up?

If kumlaar received a full statement of the service charges due in Nov '19, then how would he know there was more money due from when the previous managing agents had the property?   I only ever pay the amount requested on the invoices from the managing agents & expect them to know whether my account is up to date. If they failed to sent me one of the quarterly invoices for service charges, I honestly don't think I'd realise.

kumlarr

Thank you very people for helping. 

According to Common &leasehold reform act 2002, it mentioned that Service charges are not payable unless they have been properly requested. In order to do this,  demand must sent to the leaseholder at the property the lease applies to or any other address’s supplied by the leaseholder. Should the landlord/agent fail to issue the demand in the right way, the demand is  invalid and the leaseholder is under no obligation to respond to it. This also applies with the ground rent.

I always live in property the lease applies which this managing agent used to contact me before. Also I never notify them to change my address at all.