Leasehold Information Packs

D_P_Dance

I am selling a leasehold flat. My solicitor has paid the managing agents, a bunch of shysters with a one star (out of five) rating on Allagents, £420 for a leasehold information pack The previous MA, with whom I am on good terms charge £240 including p.a. for this service.

I realise that this is unregulated at the moment, but MCHLG have issued a consultation with a recommendation that this fee is capped at £240 including v,a,t,,

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Does anyone have any ideas as to how I might confound this rip off, I have already threatened the with The Ombudsman and litigation. But they are not budging.

NameUnavailable

As it stands there's no limit on what they can charge for a lease pack, nor is there any legal obligation to provide it at all.

£420 is similar to what I paid a couple of years ago. There is no redress and threatening litigation will make you look silly. You could take the matter to tribunal to challenge the costs but doing that will cost you more than the pack in the first place.

It's another one of the pitfalls of buying leasehold property.

Gabr1el

I provide the Leaseholder Information Pack on behalf of the Management Company.  I recently provided everything to the new purchaser's solicitor but he won't pay for it as he says it's not detailed in the actual lease.  The lease was issued long before any Management Company existed, hence no details being mentioned in the lease itself.  Just wondering if this is correct and whether I need to get the lease amended?  Every other solicitor over the past 22 years has paid for the Leasehold Pack.  TIA

anselld

Gabr1el said:

I provide the Leaseholder Information Pack on behalf of the Management Company.  I recently provided everything to the new purchaser's solicitor but he won't pay for it as he says it's not detailed in the actual lease.  The lease was issued long before any Management Company existed, hence no details being mentioned in the lease itself.  Just wondering if this is correct and whether I need to get the lease amended?  Every other solicitor over the past 22 years has paid for the Leasehold Pack.  TIA

Somewhat confusing ...

   Firstly new topic should start a new thread rather than resurecting a four year old one.

   To your actual question .. normally the seller pays not the buyer, and normally payment is made before the ManCo issues the pack so there is never a question of not being paid.

eddddy

Gabr1el said:

I provide the Leaseholder Information Pack on behalf of the Management Company.  I recently provided everything to the new purchaser's solicitor but he won't pay for it as he says it's not detailed in the actual lease.  The lease was issued long before any Management Company existed, hence no details being mentioned in the lease itself.  Just wondering if this is correct and whether I need to get the lease amended?  Every other solicitor over the past 22 years has paid for the Leasehold Pack.  TIA

Did you agree a fee before sending it?

The way you've written it, it sounds like you sent the Info Pack (without any agreement on payment) - then sent a demand for money.

If that's the case, you might find you don't have a very strong case for claiming payment.


But I guess you could try playing it a 'little bit dirty' and say that you won't accept a Notice of Transfer from the new owner, until your fee is paid.

And you hope that the buyer/seller pays up without taking you to court or tribunal.

(But some people might argue that makes you a 'nasty' freeholder, who holds leaseholders to ransom.)