Management Company - slow response to maintenance issues, holding up sale

KennyH1

We have an apartment that is managed by a management company. We have raised 2 issues that fall under the control of the management company and they have not progressed with any site visits or repairs. We are also in the process of selling the property and the purchaser will not compete until the works are completed. 

Timescale below

9th July - Issues raised with ManCo 
15th July - Man Co confirmed works fall under their control and requested contact details to arrange access to obtain quotes.  
10th September - Man Co confirms quotes received to view the works but are awaiting comparable quotes. 

I have chased on a regular basis but the ManCo / their contractors are yet to attend to view what works are required.

What can i do to speed up the process?

eddddy

KennyH1 said:

What can i do to speed up the process?

All you can really do is chase the management company.

Or I guess you could threaten them with legal action, such as...

• Getting a court order
• Applying to a tribunal to have a building manager appointed

Or threaten to report them to their redress scheme (e.g. the Property Ombudsman) for poor service

KennyH1 said:

We are also in the process of selling the property and the purchaser will not compete until the works are completed. 

What is the work?

Why do the buyers want it done before completion?

KennyH1 said:

Timescale below

9th July - Issues raised with ManCo 
15th July - Man Co confirmed works fall under their control and requested contact details to arrange access to obtain quotes.  
10th September - Man Co confirms quotes received to view the works but are awaiting comparable quotes. 

Is this a section 20 consultation?

How much will each leaseholder have to contribute to the cost of the work?

Mark_d

This is a conversation to have with your solicitor.  They'll be able to tell you what, if anything, you can do to speed up the process

eddddy

Mark_d said:

This is a conversation to have with your solicitor.  They'll be able to tell you what, if anything, you can do to speed up the process

The OP is talking about a Landlord and Tenant dispute.

Just to clarify - the OP would probably need to consult a specialist solicitor about that. A conveyancing solicitor is unlikely to be experienced in Landlord and Tenant legislation and disputes.



For example,

• In theory, the OP could serve notice on their Freeholder under section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, saying that unless the freeholder gets the work done, the OP will apply to a tribunal to get a manager appointed (assuming the freeholder has done something wrong). But that's likely to be a long process.

• And/or it sounds a bit like there could be major works consultation under section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act progressing.

But a conveyancing solicitor is unlikely to be familiar with those sections of the Landlord and Tenant Act, and typically would have no experience of dealing with them.