Revealed – the great leasehold service charge rip-off

Try:-
Name: Roger Hardwick
Title: Head of Enfranchisement
Email: rogerhardwick@brethertons.co.uk
Phone: 01295 661453
Fax: 01295 277648
Post: Strathmore House Waterperry Court Middleton Road BANBURY OX16 4QD

For the people who are worried about naming and shaming their managing agents, visit blagger.com. Our agent is regularly named and shamed on this site, it's great (and the least they deserve)

Silly question perhaps but if they are so bad why are they still your agent?

I too have a query on this area - My husband and I own a leasehold property with a difference, it has it own front door, a small 3 foot garden area to the front and a garage which is accessed via the only commonly shared area for the property - it is commonly referred to as a Coach House (on a Barratts estate). We pay 2x six monthly maintenance charges c£450 each and 2x ground rent. In the past we have not taken out building insurance but have contents insurance for a marginal amount to cover carpets etc
Up until recently we were under the impression that we were covered for by the leasehold for building insurance, however, our tenants had some mishaps in the bathroom recently and it caused damage to our walls and flooring - my husband undertook the remedial actions but I thought we should have claimed on the insurance as the ceiling of the shared walkway was damaged so I called the property management company (Peverel) and was told that we would only be covered for any shared areas - ie if our property was in a block of flats and the damage was in the hallway we would be covered but as this wasn't the case we were not covered; this was a shock and got us thinking then what are we covered for and why are we paying so much towards maintenance when it did not even cover getting our grass in the front mowed as part of the maintenance.
Can anyone advise on how we can go about ascertaining where we stand and how to go about it - I am very concerned because if there was an acidental fire or the likes in our property does this mean we will not be able to claim off the leasehold insurance?? Help !!!

I'd suggest you get together with the other leaseholders to form a group with a view to buying the freehold interest in the properties yourselves. You can also challenge the management fees. Both will require legal advice which may not be economical for you as an individual though. Therefore, meeting with the other leaseholders makes sense if you can agree to split the costs. If you need a specialist solicitor to help I know a very good one, just let me know,

I know I am a little late on the uptake here but the initial thread came to my attention and as a REPUTABLE managing agent I felt compelled to reply.

@Satish- please do take Paul Barretts advise and get the land registry docs with the other leasehold details. Get in touch if you need any help doing so.

@Cnicholls and @Retep - have you considered the Appointment of a manager under Section 22/ 24 of L & T act 1987? You only need 1+ leaseholders to instigate this action but there are certain conditions (reasonableness might be most appropriate here. that apply so check out the link below. http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/documents/document.asp?item=18
in short you get the LVT to appoint an agent of their/your choice. a good alternative where there is not enough support for a RTM.

@mitchlevy - I googled leasehold property nightmare and there are loads of them now, which one were you referring too?

@bob2001 - do you still use blagger.com, I just checked it out, its quite basis but if popularly used i will promote.

As for the article itself, Mark Alexander I think a response would make an excellent first google blog? what do you think?

@Lauren, great idea, I look forward to reading it. See >>> http://www.property118.com/suggest-an-article-or-discussion-sharing-best-practice/

@bill I have property in reading and have multiple problems with a management company I deal with, I wonder if its the same one? Can you give a clue?

Many suggest self-management in various guises - Note that flats over shops have limitations to make it much harder.

The suggestion to use LVT to remove a manger S.24 is risky and not cheap if you loose, they can only go on the regulations and it is quite easy for an agent to say, write a 364 day contract to sidestep them.

I own a leasehold flat which is on the ground floor of a converted Victorian terrace. The managing agents have sent me an invoice for 50% of the £30k bill for external works and redecorations. What powers do they have if I do not agree this level of works are required.