Any advice for housing committees

alant1000

Hi,

3 months ago I moved into a block of 6 brand new flats, all but 1 are now in, and we are having issues with the landlord regarding service charges and maintenace fees.

I've decided to set up a housing committee for the block (they have all elected me as chairman, i dont blame them, its not a fun job :rotfl: ). The reason I decided to set this up was becuase we still have loads of snagging issues (communal and individual) that were are not fixed. Most of us included having these fixed as a condition of exchange, and were promised that they would be resolved, but as we have all completed and the solicitors are out of the frame, we're on our own.

Within the maintenace charge we also collectively pay £1500 a year for cleaners (sounds a lot for a 6 flat building), and havent had a single cleaner in 3 months. Our payment for service and maintenance is due again 1st Sept, so we want to resolve this soon before people go on about not wanting to pay up.

We were also promised white lines to mark out our allocated bays in the communal car park, this hasnt happened and we are being fobbed off whilst the car spaces are a free for all.

Our intercom has never worked at all, despite 2 lots of electrician visits.

we pay £525 each a year for maintenance and services (electricity), and £150 a year ground rent.

Does anyone know if there are any approved / government advice websites that outline our rights when it comes to landlords and service / maintenance charges?

Also does my solicitor have an obligation to help me resolve these as they were a condition of sale??

eldowardo

I suggest this website, www.lease-advice.org

and maybe consider buyign the freehold immediatley and form commonhold, since your all chatting to each other in the block

Ian_W

In respect of the snagging issues, I take it this is a new build or recent converstion?
Are the flats covered by an NHBC Warranty? The page I've linked to explains the procedures of initially complaining to the builder or developer if they are but you can then involve NHBC if they fail to act.

If they aren't covered by a warranty then I think you're going to have to involve a solicitor although you could spread to cost of one lawyer amongst the 6 flats with their agreement which should give an economy of scale.

Doozergirl

eldowardo wrote: »

I suggest this website, www.lease-advice.org

and maybe consider buyign the freehold immediatley and form commonhold, since your all chatting to each other in the block

Or you can take the right to manage - which , it seems, you are halfway to doing if you have set up a commitee. Link from same website: http://www.lease-advice.org/rtmframe.htm

If you think you can get things done better and cheaper yourselves, then I'd recommend doing it. Cheaper than buying the freehold and if you have brand new leases, there's no immediate benefit to owning share of freehold.