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Service charge account for flat-is this right?
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DawnRose8
Posts: 47 Forumite
It's coming up to a year since I bought my flat and I've received an 'estimated service charge account' from the management co. (Who have the worst reputation possible).
It's asking me to pay an additional amount of ground rent despite the fact I paid this in full when I moved in.
They've included cleaning costs (none has been done) as well as two full years insurance, 2017/18 and 2018/19.
The gov website says I'm within my rights to ask for proof of charges so I'll do that but wondered whether they should've actually quoted two full years insurance on the breakdown.
The whole letter is in the tiniest print-barely legible and they've given me four days from the date it was sent to look into this and cough up the money!I've ordered statements to prove how much ground rent I paid and will chase my conveyancers to see if they can help.
Any advice would be welcome.
It's asking me to pay an additional amount of ground rent despite the fact I paid this in full when I moved in.
They've included cleaning costs (none has been done) as well as two full years insurance, 2017/18 and 2018/19.
The gov website says I'm within my rights to ask for proof of charges so I'll do that but wondered whether they should've actually quoted two full years insurance on the breakdown.
The whole letter is in the tiniest print-barely legible and they've given me four days from the date it was sent to look into this and cough up the money!I've ordered statements to prove how much ground rent I paid and will chase my conveyancers to see if they can help.
Any advice would be welcome.
0
Comments
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If you paid the ground rent when you moved in, almost a year ago, surely this is due for the new year ahead?
Yes, look back at your previous paperwork and compare it all.
Ground rent is normally payable in advance.
It's an estimated service charge which indicates it is for the year coming and makes certain assumptions which may or may not be correct.
A year end statement should be issued showing what was actually spent in the end, and any overpayment will be carried forward on your account.
You might want to have a chat with a neighbour or two, to see whether everything seems in order. Sometimes there are residents meetings when these demands go out and everyone has a chat and a moan about it.0 -
Thanks for replying.
This appears to be an end of year statement and the additional ground rent charges are for the past year. I agree it should show what was spent.
That's why I don't understand the inclusion of next year's insurance.
I'll have a chat with a neighbour but we all moved in at different times (it's a new build and I was one of the first) so they may not have dealt with this yet.0
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