Forum Topic

Service Charges

I am looking to compare the service charges with other flat's developments in Brentford. How much do you pay in service charges to manage your site? How many flats are in your development? Do you have one company or more to manage the estate and block service charges?What is a fair service charge to be applied?Thank you.

Satvir Sidhu ● 5946d8 Comments

If you are painting a picture of a pyramid of management companies (I am not sure that you are) but if so, then would it be the case that they are all getting a slice of the commission? If not already, you would be advised to have the service charge statement broken down into small elemental parts. Among other things that will identify the water and electricity bills for common parts and how those portions are charged to you.I trust that you really will read your lease from end to end, twice, so you know your obligations and rights. You then have to decide to live with it or look at the options in researching and fighting your case. You might have to get most residents singing from the same hymn sheet to make progress.

George Knox ● 5943d

Sitvar, slight correction, Brentford Lock does not have a 24 hr concierge. Just a 6 day a week, 7-7 service.

Alan Clark ● 5943d

Thank you for the good advise.We have an apt. in Ferry Quays.There are 3 block management companies and one estate management company, who then employ further two companies to manage the estate. We now have a third company, which sent just the ground rent demands to us. I see most of the other estates have just one managing company. You can imagine the chaos created by the number of demands sent to apt. owners!I understand that Holland Gardens and Brentford Lock have 24 hour concierge! Ferry Quays have 2 guys in the estate office from 8 to 4pm, Saturday half day and no service on Sunday.What sort of costs are involved for 24 hour cover? What are water or electricity charges on other estates? Satvir

Satvir Sidhu ● 5943d

Sound advice, which indeed has been done at one of the big flat developments in the locality (and I can't help but wonder if the original poster is referring to the same developmment - Holland Gardens ?).

Adam Beamish ● 5944d

Depending on the enthusiasm of other leaseholders you may wish to investigate setting up a residents association. The federation of private residents associations may help.If leaseholder numbers are sufficient you can take over the running of the service charges, but that is quite hard work. You can challenge your landlords to demonstrate that they are getting the keenest prices year on year and if they are not you can complain that they are indulging in unfair practices - subject to covenants in the lease which must be fair. The commission they charge is governed by market forces, unless the lease contains a sneaky covenant. Study your lease in detail and see what rights you have.

George Knox ● 5944d

I am a leaseholder.But I will not recommend anyone to buy a flat. Thank you for the valuable advise.

Satvir Sidhu ● 5944d

There is no hard & fast rule on service charges they are a moveable feast.  It doesn't matter how many flats are in a block as each tenant's share should be specified in their lease and is usually based on the size of the flat.  However a block of 10 equal sized flats should presumably mean that everyone would pay 1/10th of the annual cost. What matters is what works are required to the building and common parts of the block/gardens.  Is there a lift?  Is the management company owned by the tenants or by a freeholder or is it a separate company employed by a freeholder?  Service charges must be justified and fair and any major works must be deemed necessary and estimates for same should be supplied to all tenants before it is undertaken.  Management companies will of course charge (whatever they like probably) fees for managing.  If there is a lift in a block, the insurance will be high and will be charged along with the service charges but shown separately.  Good luck - I wouldn't buy a flat on a development for all the tea in china and I suspect that many that have rue the day unless they are too well off to notice.

Bernadette Paul ● 5946d

Are you a landlord?

George Knox ● 5946d