Maisonettes and lack of a Management Company

[55palfers]

A question for the property bods please.

My nephew is selling his maisonette. 4 dwellings in a block, several identical blocks around his estate.
Each dwelling has it own separate front door and there are no common areas. Ground rent is paid to a firm of solicitors in London I believe.

The mortgage company of his purchasers are adamant there must be a management company in charge of the estate and are dragging their heels.
There is no management company, there never has been and there never will be. His solicitor is hopeless.

Has there been a change of legislation to require this? I see the situation the same as if you lived in a row of terraced houses. Each occupier has their own insurance (or not!) and in the event of a fire, or other catastrophic loss, your own insurer will pay out and then argue the toss with the negligent party.

Any ideas on a way forward please?

[55palfers]

It's leasehold. He recently extended it by 99 years to something like 160 years

[55palfers]

northwest monkey said:

My lease says that we're all responsible for the maintenance & upkeep of communal areas (paths/fences etc)with the upstairs flats being responsible for the roof & gutters.

Insurance is the responsibility for each leaseholder.

That's exactly the same as the lease on my nephew's place. Seems to have worked OK since the late 60s when they were built

Seems there is a default assumption that "something must be done"

[55palfers]

Same as in a terraced property I guess where a defective roof next door could allow water ingress to your property, particularly in the area around chimneys.

[55palfers]

Thanks to all who have responded.

In answer to some of your questions;

He did use a solicitor for the purchase (about 7 years ago??)
He did buy it via a mortgage.
He has got both buildings and contents insurance.
He just pays £24 pa ground rent to a local estate agent acting for landowner.

The situation is same with all the others on his estate. There are 3 identical maisonettes for sale and I have spoken to the selling agents asking "...how much is the management charge?" and was told for each property that "there is no management company".

It's an unusual situation, but he is not unique it seems.

[55palfers]

UPDATE!

He has now completed on his sale and the funds are in his account.

Despite there still being no management company.