Service fees are insane.

EssexHebridean

snowqueen555 said:

poseidon1 said:

RedFraggle said:

We're share of freehold and pay £80 a month. I deliberately avoided lifts,  gyms, concierge, large gardens, wooden windows, heated communal areas. Also as a director of the management company I have some input into what gets done. I'm happy with that. 

 Where I rented in London my LLs service charge was £3000 a month.

Also own share of freehold of converted house ( 4 units). Our annual outgoings are buildings insurance which I organise. My share  this year around £400.

However we did have a large renovation programme in 2017 which included roof and chimney replacement, repointing brickwork ( last done over 100 years ago), refurbishing windows, stonework etc ( property built 1856).

My quarter share of that project was £25,000, but this renovation had been planned for over the prior 10 years as part of buying out the original Freeholder who wanted to do the works on the cheap.

I would certainly buy into a similar sized share of freehold flat again, with this measure of absolute control of outgoings.

Would never, ever contemplate a large modern block  with service charges completely out of your control, and with a mixed bag of co lessees the majority of whom would be unknown to you, not to mention the usual quota of absentee BTL flat owners with their 'revolving door' of tenants.

There are so few of these available, the reality is that most people buying flats can't afford a houses, in which case it's finding one with the lowest fees possible, and preferably little to no ground rent.

Local Authority blocks are usually good for the latter, but my experience is that LA Freeholders are also pretty terrible and are inclined to see Leaseholders as cash cows to be milked for all they are worth on the service charges. Not necessarily "high" as such, but incredibly poor value for money. 

BungalowBel

My son lives in a large complex of 140 flats in the Midlands.  His service charge is about £1400 p.a. He doesn't like paying it, but then again he also wouldn't want to be bothered with external maintenance and garden, so accepts he has to pay someone else to do it.

A friend lives in a share of freehold block of about 15 flats.  I can't remember how much his service charge is, except that it is more than my son's, but it  includes the heating.  I'm not sure I would like that as you have no control over the heating other than to turn it off.  But he doesn't mind.

I live in a freehold property, so no service charge, but any repairs and the upkeep of the garden, and the heating, is all on me.

Everyone has different preferences.

You pays your money and you takes your choice, as the saying goes.