In October 2017 I received a letter with an invoice for over £700 for my fifth of the proposed cost of a replacement fire alarm system. Stating works would not be completed until all invoices were settled (one flat was vacant). It is usual practice for the freeholder to split the costs by four instead of five as he owns one of the flats as part of the leasehold purchase.
Of the four occupied flats, we all own our flat on a leasehold with a long lease, in excess of ninety years. The freeholder now uses a letting agent to send offensive letters with demands for payment.
Two flat owners, me and one other both reminded the letting agent that a Section 20 consultation must be completed prior to the works being completed. We received no response, they used 'a known contact' and the electrician just kept knocking on doors, demanding access until he was let in to change the smoke sensors.
In November 2017 we each received a reminder that the work was being completed, we had to pay in advance and we were in breach of the terms of the lease if we did not pay and a charge would be set against each flat. I wrote a second time to the managing agent requesting he complete a Section 20 Consultation, I was not withholding payment but I wanted due process followed.
Then silence, until this week when a letter arrived with an invoice for over £500 as the works have been completed.
Do I have to go straight to First Tier Tribunal?
Do I pay £250 as part, potentially full payment if the Tribunal find in my favour.
Does each leaseholder have to make an individual application for a Tribunal hearing?
The managing agent will not engage in correspondence to address the matter, just keeps sending demand letters with an invoice for settlement so there is no discussion, just demands.
I have checked the Leasehold Advisory Service and there is no clear guidance on whether I have to go straight to Tribunal, appoint a solicitor, if we are collective or individual leaseholders.
Of the four occupied flats, we all own our flat on a leasehold with a long lease, in excess of ninety years. The freeholder now uses a letting agent to send offensive letters with demands for payment.
Two flat owners, me and one other both reminded the letting agent that a Section 20 consultation must be completed prior to the works being completed. We received no response, they used 'a known contact' and the electrician just kept knocking on doors, demanding access until he was let in to change the smoke sensors.
In November 2017 we each received a reminder that the work was being completed, we had to pay in advance and we were in breach of the terms of the lease if we did not pay and a charge would be set against each flat. I wrote a second time to the managing agent requesting he complete a Section 20 Consultation, I was not withholding payment but I wanted due process followed.
Then silence, until this week when a letter arrived with an invoice for over £500 as the works have been completed.
Do I have to go straight to First Tier Tribunal?
Do I pay £250 as part, potentially full payment if the Tribunal find in my favour.
Does each leaseholder have to make an individual application for a Tribunal hearing?
The managing agent will not engage in correspondence to address the matter, just keeps sending demand letters with an invoice for settlement so there is no discussion, just demands.
I have checked the Leasehold Advisory Service and there is no clear guidance on whether I have to go straight to Tribunal, appoint a solicitor, if we are collective or individual leaseholders.
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