Strange items included in service charges

[leaseholder3]

Our service charges for the past year (the actual for 2007/08) included items which, in this current economic situation (credit crunch), seem to be outrageous and unnecessary. This is a council block with some leasehold flats in it. For example, the following items were charged:
- Service development team (projects undertaken in relation to leasehold issues)
- Feedback and Support team (deal with complaints, satisfaction surveys and members' enquiries)
- Communication team (undertake editorial work and make arrangements for all publications, publicity, press relations, website, etc)
- Magazines for all residents
- Citizens Advise Bureau (advise people on debt management and claiming benefit)
It seems to us that these issues are getting out of perspective and common sense is disappearing. Can we do anything to contest what it seems to be a waste of money?

[tenant29]

And have you been given all information in 15 different languages ?

This is exactly how All Councils administer the general rates account and council services and wasting our money quicker under the past 10 years period of Labour Government.

You should expect the service charge to be higher for properties managed by Council.

You need to exercise your vote at local council elections and wage a campaign to return to core values and core activities and remove the top tier of overpaid executives .

[ram]

Our service charges for the past year included items which seem to be outrageous and unnecessary.

As a matter of interest, how much per month are you paying ?

£50 per month / 100 per month, just to get a perspective. And new block / 30 year old block. ?

- Communication team ( This should not be a chargeable item)
- Magazines for all residents ( This should not be a chargeable item, as it is not required by law, nor indeed wanted )
- Citizens Advise Bureau ( Definitely not a chargeble item, is staffed by unpaid volunteers, unpaid solicitors, and is not an official Government department. Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity, and the councl cannot charge -you- if they want to make a donation !!! )

So yes - contest above 3, even if costs are between above figure.

[jeffrey]

Our service charges for the past year (the actual for 2007/08) included items which, in this current economic situation (credit crunch), seem to be outrageous and unnecessary. This is a council block with some leasehold flats in it. For example, the following items were charged:
- Service development team (projects undertaken in relation to leasehold issues)
- Feedback and Support team (deal with complaints, satisfaction surveys and members' enquiries)
- Communication team (undertake editorial work and make arrangements for all publications, publicity, press relations, website, etc)
- Magazines for all residents
- Citizens Advise Bureau (advise people on debt management and claiming benefit)
It seems to us that these issues are getting out of perspective and common sense is disappearing. Can we do anything to contest what it seems to be a waste of money?
How many flats are demised to RTB lessee (or now held by such lessee's successor), as proportion of total number of flats in block?

[leaseholder3]

How many flats are demised to RTB lessee (or now held by such lessee's successor), as proportion of total number of flats in block?

I am not sure, but I ESTIMATE 10%.

[jeffrey]

I am not sure, but I ESTIMATE 10%.
Shame- not enough (yet) to force:
a. RTM (needs lessees of two-thirds of flats]; or
b. RTE (needs lessees of half of flats].

[leaseholder3]

As a matter of interest, how much per month are you paying ?

£50 per month / 100 per month, just to get a perspective. And new block / 30 year old block. ?

- Communication team ( This should not be a chargeable item)
- Magazines for all residents ( This should not be a chargeable item, as it is not required by law, nor indeed wanted )
- Citizens Advise Bureau ( Definitely not a chargeble item, is staffed by unpaid volunteers, unpaid solicitors, and is not an official Government department. Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity, and the councl cannot charge -you- if they want to make a donation !!! )

So yes - contest above 3, even if costs are between above figure.


we pay about 210 pounds a month for the whole service charges. the block is about 30 years old. the amount paid towards the items i mentioned is about 200 pounds a year.

[ram]

we pay about 210 pounds a month for the whole service charges. the block is about 30 years old. the amount paid towards the items i mentioned is about 200 pounds a year.

So is that -- 210 per month, plus 1/12 of 200 which gives a total of £ 226.66 per month aggregate. Seem excessive to me, and is 2½ ( 2.5 ) times what we pay for a 130 year old 3 story victorian house with usable cellar which needs a lot of maintenence.

I'd move if you can, but that is not always possible.

Suggest you contest charges, especially Citizens Advise Bureau "Charity"

What are the council going to do if you say you are not happy with the charges..... not a lot.
You can request to see their accounts, by visiting the council offices.

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1.13 Tenants right to inspect invoices ( Should apply to you also )

A Tenant who receives a costs summary has right under s22 of the 1985 Act to be given reasonable facilities to inspect and copy (or take down extracts from) the accounts receipts and other documents supporting the costs summary, and the facility must be made available over a period of at least two months, starting within one month of the tenant's request. Where there is a recognised tenants' association, a tenant may authorise the secretary of the association to carry out the inspection on his behalf. The inspection facilities must be free of charge to the person inspecting, although this does not preclude the costs so incurred by the landlord being charged in the service charges as management costs if the service charge clause in the lease permits. The landlord is, however, entitled to make a resonable charge for providing copying facilities. Similar provisions will apply, with some updating, to the new statements and certificates under CLRA 2002

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However, the above should apply, as your Managing agent is the council, and as a managing agent, for which you indirectly employ to manage your flat and building, you are within your rights to inspect the acounts.

Remember, you are paying a Managing agent ( Council ) to manage on your behalf, even though you had no say in who manages the property.

:: I am not a legal expert ::