Q: Hi everyone, especially
In MSE Martin! Do you know much about the above!?
Myself and the girl lived below me in our apartment block are currently writing a complaint to our RE our housing rental fees and our costs.
Initially complaint, because the cleaning / gardening is not hardly run at all and 7 months We pay for this service!
However recently we have compared our rent / service charge to others on their website and we pay way over the odds!
Our 55% share costs us ￡ 55,000 to ￡ 160 months rent and other examples on their website for houses / flats for ￡ 67,500 to 75,000 pay rents comparable to ours – give or take ￡ 5.10! It states rents are based on the loan they should take the cost of the part that they own cover, so how can this huge difference and they DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THAT be?
We knows we have a right to challenge our service charge to a tenant Valuation Tribunal – if we again appear to pay ￡ 20 per month more than a similar building of such housing. It costs U.S. TO DO?
And Finally, if we get anywhere with them on reducing the rent / service charge – can we make our money back on the payments we have already done !? ?
Thanks for advice
Amanda
Anyone else hav anymore advice?
Most disputes between leaseholders and freeholders can be taken to an LVT. This might include disagreements about:
<LI class=bullet>insuring the building <LI class=bullet>how much you have to pay in service charges <LI class=bullet>the quality of services provided <LI class=bullet>how much you have to pay to extend your lease
how much you have to pay to buy the freehold of your buildingLVTs can decide whether the amount you have to pay for services or repairs is 'reasonable'. This won't necessarily be the price you were hoping for, but can often be less than the freeholder has asked for.
The LVT can't usually force the freeholder to refund any money you have already paid, or order her/him to pay your legal costs.
If you have problems like these you may need to go to court instead, so get professional advice.
If your building is being managed very badly, you can ask the LVT to appoint a manager. The freeholder would still own the property, but would lose the right to manage it. S/he may also lose the right to collect ground rent.
If what your lease says about maintenance, repairs, insurance or service charges is unclear or unfair, the LVT may be able to change it
</H2>How much will it cost?
Application fees vary from £300 to £500. If you win, the LVT may be able to order the freeholder to refund this. If you (or your partner) are on benefits, you may get a discount or may not have to pay any fees at all. If the problem affects more than one leaseholder, you can apply together and share the costs.
However, you may have to pay a surveyor, property manager and/or a solicitor. You can't usually claim these back. Some freeholders try to include her/his legal costs in future service charges. Check your lease to see if it says s/he can do this. If it does, ask the LVT to make an order preventing her/him from doing so.