Getting rid of a propery management company

[furtive]

My house is in a small private cul-de-sac and the road outside is block paved. The house is freehold but in the deeds there is a covenant that says that a property management company is responsibly for the maintenance of the road area. All the houses have to pay a silly amount of money (that seems to increase exponentially every year) every quarter for them to do nothing as far as I can tell.

They claim to have a contract to sweep the road but can't tell me when or how often it will be done, but do tell me that a man with a broom sweeps it. I've lived here for 10 years and never seen him.

I get a copy every year showing what the money I give them is spent on. There is a little bit for the "sweeping contract", some kept aside for repairs if they are ever needed, some for "insurance", but the majority just goes on "management fees".

This company has also started to charge me £250 every time I change my mortgage provider as they are on the deeds and need to do something. This is a new charge that they never levied before.

Now, is there any way to get rid of these clowns and set something up with the other residents to ensure that if the road ever needs fixing we can do it?

[Ment-Al]

Move house?

[Eric Mc]

I suppose it depends on the terms of the contract under which they manage the properties. Have you seen this contract?

[furtive]

No, haven't seen the contract. I doubt they would be willing to let me have a copy

[cloggy]

Yes you have the right to self manage by law.

Establish a Right-To-Manage Limited Company then officially ask all owners to become members of the company.

Then tell the Management company that you take over, they have to oblige by law.

(Use a solicitor that has done it before)

[Monki]

I think that if you can get 75% of the residents together, you can form your own "management company" and take over. My girlfriend is thinking of doing the same at a flat development for the same reason ie charged lots of money and receiving sod all service.

[Neil_H]

My parents have exactly this same problem with a management company, who charge an obscene amount of money and are never seen doing anything.

Useless feckers, yet my parents have so far not succeeded in getting rid.

[MK4 Slowride]

The management company of the area I live in are raking in a good £250,000 a year in management fees. All I can see is a 2 gardeners once a month who do weeding and we get buildings insurance.

75% you say, I might go self employed in property management.