Estate management charges

eurobabe

You're usually best in these cases to pay up and argue the case afterwards.It can get quite nasty.As you mentioned a debt collection agency involved, it could also affect your credit rating, will be logged against your mortgage when you go to sell.

Coupon-mad

hasanahmed50 said:

I think there was a delay in appointing one but I was under the impression that no management fees will be levied considering when I submitted my deposit of £500, there was nil management charges mentioned. Also, even though the management company could have been appointed pre Jan 24, they only contacted me in Jan 24 first time, and then couldn't produce a single evidence of any work performed arguing that they are not obligated to and also sent me unaudited accounts which didn't mean much, ultimately, I understand since they haven't performed anything, they will try and avoid this and sent this straight to the debt collector, it was much easier for them. 

Also, the neighbours are concerned with the lack of work performed by this company, I created a WhatsApp group and all had the same opinion that this management company is a total disgrace and haven't performed literally any work since the first people who moved in this new build area have also mentioned as they are now approaching 2nd year of dwelling here.

Just to add to the advice already given, you could try reaching out to a local University pro bono law clinic.

Most are starting up again this week for the academic year, with final year law students supported by pro bono lawyers and barristers, e.g. here's one in my area (Sussex):

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/schools/law-politics-and-sociology/about/law/clinics#:~:text=Our%20Law%20Clinics%20are%20a,a%20variety%20of%20legal%20issues.

Most include housing issues help.

mark_cycling00

As mentioned earlier, not paying is definitely not the route to improve or replace the management company.

Also it's possible that costs of pursuing you might get added to all your neighbours management fees and you won't be very popular.

Try and find out more about the structure of the estate and whether you get an annual vote on keeping them and whether they're allowed to keep a sinking fund or return unspent money back to residents.