Service charge
Author
Discussion

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,599 posts

146 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all

I'm in a new build estate still under construction. (moved in a year past Christmas)

Ever since then we've been paying a factors fee for general grounds keeping etc except this hasn't been getting done.

I phoned up the estates company to find out when they were coming to do some weeding and grass cutting only to be told they aren't.

It seems that our part of the estate hasn't been handed over yet and we are in fact paying for the upkeep of some of the more established parts of the estate. The burden of grounds keeping it seems is still with the developer.

I'm wondering why we are being charged a. For work not being done and b. For something they don't even have a contract for.

Any ideas about the legality of this?

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Who is charging you?

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,599 posts

146 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all

The propery management company who are supposed to be doing the work.

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Drawweight said:
The propery management company who are supposed to be doing the work.
Is that a different entity to the estates company you mention?

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,599 posts

146 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all

No sorry, same thing.

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Have you asked them why they are charging you when the maintenance of your area is not within their remit?

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,599 posts

146 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Yes. As I said it seems we are paying for the more established parts of the estate that have been handed over.

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Ask them to prove they have the right to then.

anothernameitist

1,500 posts

165 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Read your lease.
Knowing management companies and how leases are focused on them not you, it seems "reasonable"


AbzGuyGTI

581 posts

219 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Property management companies can be a nightmare sometimes.

We weren't in a too dissimilar situation to yourself, whereas we had received the invoice to pay for the maintenance to the grass area's etc but it turned out this maintenance wouldn't start until all houses were complete in this section of the estate (1 years time) BUT we still had to pay this as it was within their contract even though nothing was getting done at our part of the estate but on the finished part of the estate they were getting the grass cut etc..

Eventually i got letters threatening to go legal if i didn't pay regardless of complaint letters from myself and neighbors so paid up!


ManicMunky

713 posts

150 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Not RMG is it?

speedking31

3,925 posts

166 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Does occupying your house give you the right to use the amenities that are being maintained?

If they're public then I'd be annoyed.

Drawweight

Original Poster:

3,599 posts

146 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
AbzGuyGTI said:
Property management companies can be a nightmare sometimes.

We weren't in a too dissimilar situation to yourself, whereas we had received the invoice to pay for the maintenance to the grass area's etc but it turned out this maintenance wouldn't start until all houses were complete in this section of the estate (1 years time) BUT we still had to pay this as it was within their contract even though nothing was getting done at our part of the estate but on the finished part of the estate they were getting the grass cut etc..

Eventually i got letters threatening to go legal if i didn't pay regardless of complaint letters from myself and neighbors so paid up!
Exactly our situation. It’s not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things but it would be nice to get the grass cut .