[Scotland]Buying a house with an unknown service charge

UndergroundSaxClub

Thanks so much for the reply.

You are right, I should wait for the information.

Trying to think of the best way to phrase this in the reply to my solicitor.

"I would like to wait until we have the following information in writing:

1. The cost, and frequency of the service charge and what this covers
   
2. Any recent, ongoing or upcoming works to be carried out on the building/unit"
   

user1977

It's any major works which you really want to be interested in, but assuming your missives use the Scottish Standard Conditions, those will cover any works which are already planned.

Probably more to think about are works which are foreseeable but nobody's done anything about them yet e.g. if the surveyor thought the roof needed attention, but the factors say no repairs are planned, is that a bill which you're likely to have next year?

UndergroundSaxClub

I'm unsure if any surveyor has "properly" assessed the roof due to the height and it being completely flat. On-going maintenance will be required throughout its lifetime, I'm unsure how often, if at all the roof is checked. I imagine the company only go up when a tenant reports a problem.

UndergroundSaxClub

Thanks all for the help so far.

Shortly after my last post on August 9th my Solicitor sent an email asking if I was happy to conclude missives, I said no pending information about the service charge as above.

Today (August 17th) I've been receiving some documents from them such as

• A final balance to be paid, including my deposit and all fees
  
• Standard Security & Matrimonial Homes Declaration
  
• A Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Return date August 31st

These all seem like important legal documents. Should I sign all of these and return them, despite the Service Charge information (still) pending to get things moving along, or should I not do anything until I the Charge info? I don't want to sign something I can't back out from without knowing the Charge.

user1977

There's nothing to back out of until you authorise your solicitor to conclude missives. There's no harm in signing the other stuff and getting it back to them in the meantime. The LBTT return date will be changed if necessary depending on what the date of entry ends up being.

If you don't understand what's going on, talk to your solicitor. That's what you're paying them for!