My aunt's maintenance bill is going up by £6,000 in December.

GDB2222

I’ll just repeat my advice above. The way to go is Right to Manage. It allows leaseholders to take over the management of the block. They can always appoint a firm to carry out the day to day work, but it will be under the control of the leaseholders.

You should sound out the other leaseholders, to find out how many are interested. I think it takes a two thirds majority, but it’s a simple enough process to implement.

 I have a flat in a block where this was done, and the service charges have stayed very low for years.

Civic2056

GDB2222 said:

I’ll just repeat my advice above. The way to go is Right to Manage. It allows leaseholders to take over the management of the block. They can always appoint a firm to carry out the day to day work, but it will be under the control of the leaseholders.

You should sound out the other leaseholders, to find out how many are interested. I think it takes a two thirds majority, but it’s a simple enough process to implement.

 I have a flat in a block where this was done, and the service charges have stayed very low for years.

They looked into this. They couldn't afford it , and then theyd also have to be listed as company directors and manage the building etc, it's beyond the capabilities of 12 mostly retired single pensioners who don't have much money. 

GDB2222

Civic2056 said:

GDB2222 said:

I’ll just repeat my advice above. The way to go is Right to Manage. It allows leaseholders to take over the management of the block. They can always appoint a firm to carry out the day to day work, but it will be under the control of the leaseholders.

You should sound out the other leaseholders, to find out how many are interested. I think it takes a two thirds majority, but it’s a simple enough process to implement.

 I have a flat in a block where this was done, and the service charges have stayed very low for years.

They looked into this. They couldn't afford it , and then theyd also have to be listed as company directors and manage the building etc, it's beyond the capabilities of 12 mostly retired single pensioners who don't have much money. 

It does not cost anything significant,  so I am confused by your comments. And, yes, of course they would need to take responsibility for the management. That’s the whole point.

However, if they simply prefer to go on paying what you regard as exorbitant service charges, to what you say is a criminal organisation, that’s certainly their choice. I was just suggesting a really simple solution. 

Your suggestion of refusing to pay will lead to a world of grief.

eddddy

Civic2056 said:

They looked into this. They couldn't afford it , and then theyd also have to be listed as company directors and manage the building etc, it's beyond the capabilities of 12 mostly retired single pensioners who don't have much money. 

You say they couldn't afford it - are you confusing buying the freehold with getting the right to manage? 

Buying the freehold might cost a chunk of money, but getting the right to manage will just need legal fees to be paid.


And then they could hire a management company to do all the work. They'd just tell the management company what they want done.

(But they'd have to do some diligence to make sure the management company they hired was a good one.) 

GDB2222

eddddy said:

Civic2056 said:

They looked into this. They couldn't afford it , and then theyd also have to be listed as company directors and manage the building etc, it's beyond the capabilities of 12 mostly retired single pensioners who don't have much money. 

You say they couldn't afford it - are you confusing buying the freehold with getting the right to manage? 

Buying the freehold might cost a chunk of money, but getting the right to manage will just need legal fees to be paid.


And then they could hire a management company to do all the work. They'd just tell the management company what they want done.

(But they'd have to do some diligence to make sure the management company they hired was a good one.) 

All true. The thing is, though, that the management company would be beholden to the residents, who could sack them if they don’t do a good job. 

Racky_Roo

Looking at that list of costs, nothing seems unreasonable, and if they go down the to right to manage route, your Aunt and residents will only save the management fee which is £2200. Between 12 flats it's £184 a year. Quite honestly, that's nothing when you think abut the work involved in managing contractors and accounts etc. She needs to appreciate that living in a flat means paying out for repairs or maintenance which you might, in your own home, not bother with, such as repointing. The management company have a duty to all residents to keep the block in good order so they won't leave repairs until they are overdue as that's not good practice.

The nest steps are to check how much is in the sinkage fund and then what the additional work is and if they have had 3 quotes. 

Some of the sinkage fund could be put towards it, but it's not best practice to use up all the sinkage fund in case something urgent crops up so it might be that 50% is used for this and the residents contribute the rest.

I would also suggest that if they don't happen already, the residents request 6 monthly meetings with the management company where the accounts will be discussed and any upcoming works so they don't get any more surprises