Property Management Company Service Charge After Selling

Bunny01

Hi all, I sold and moved from a new build development free hold property as the end of last year. All annual service charges were paid in full and this was confirmed by my solicitor.

I am now receiving the new annual service charge bill for this year, even though the property now has new legal owners who are responsible for this annual service charge.

When contacting the management company, they stated that a Notice of Transfer document was required from the new owners solicitor to complete their records to show the new owners of the property. Until this happens the details will not be updated for ownership and billing for this property. They recommended I contact the new owners and return the bill as not known at this address and state the new owners name. They stated there was a note on their system that the new owners had contacted them, however there was something missing.

I contacted my solicitor who confirmed it is the buyers solicitor who processes the Notice of Transfer. I contacted the new owners who were reluctant to contact their solicitor, but did state they would, however had been told by the property management company it was a Land Registry issue which could take 6 months. The stated they would inform the property management company again. The Notice of Transfer is not related to Land Registry.

I have complained to the Management company using their complaint's form. 

Has anyone on here experienced this? 

How have you overcome the issue?

How can I protect myself from not experiencing issues around debt that is not legally mine?

QrizB

Might be better in the "properties" forum, rather than energy?

MSE_ForumTeam5

Moved as suggested

subjecttocontract

You have fulfilled all of your obligations. Legal transfer at the land registry can take a few months. You have no responsibility to pay service charges after the sale. You have informed the man' co' of the change of ownership and contacted the buyers. Return the service charge invoice as requested and that's it. 

eddddy

Bunny01 said:

I have complained to the Management company using their complaint's form. 

Based on what you've said, the Management Company might not have done anything wrong.

It sounds like it's the buyer (and/or their solicitor) who is at fault, for not sending the relevant notices to the Management Company.


Unless... something that often seems to happen... the buyer's solicitor sent the relevant notices to the Management Company, but the Management Company 'lost' them or failed to process them.

In that case, it's for the buyer (and/or their solicitor) to complain to the Management Company. They can say things like "The notice was sent on xx Jan 2025 to <xyz> email address, please check your email inbox." etc.



In your position, I might forward the bill to your buyer (or maybe even their solicitor), saying something like:

"You need to pay this bill, otherwise the Management Company are likely to charge you late fees, solicitors fees etc for breaching the terms of your agreement. Those fees could add up to £1000+ extra.

And you need to find out why the Management Company haven't processed your notice of transfer. For example, is it because:
- Your solicitor didn't send it to the Management Company
- Your solicitor didn't pay the fee
- Or, the Management Company have failed to process your notice of transfer.
- Or, the Management Company printed out the bills before they got the notice of transfer"