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Tony P
19-01-2010, 17:39 PM
The Freeholder (a Ltd Co) of our building, ignoring our recently setting up of an RTM company, decided to commission exterior work just around a flat he retains leaving the building looking like patchwork.
No Section 20 notices, estimates, notice periods etc were given - the work was just carried out by F.

The are now seeking to recover the (excessive?) amounts claimed they spent.
They are also claiming lost rent from this flat.
They are also seeking a 'fee' for managing the work - not provided for under leases.
They are also seeking interest - again not provided for under leases.
The total claims come to more that £1,000 per flat.
They refused to pay their shares\ of agreed Interim Service Charge Contributions to the RTM, both before this expenditure and after, now claiming to off-set it against the above.

They are making these claims against both the RTM and the individual Leaseholders at the same time.

I know and accept the claims are invalid as Section 20 was not abided with as being well as outside the leases. I have twice written (signed for post) rejecting the claims with full reasons and references. But they just ignore these letters and continue with threats, generally selectively against the weaker or more timid lessees.

A Leaseholder's sale was impeded because they directly approached the prospective purchaser saying they would be sued for the 'liability'. The money was paid under duress to enable the sale to take place.

In the past there has been a total disregard to procedures laid out by the law about Ground Rent application dates and form. Despite absent, out of date, incorrect amounts and periods, even backdated Ground Rent demands (I keep the envelopes!)- the claims of 'arrears' continue unabated. My challenges to sue me to get it resolved get ignored.

They once applied to the LVT for a service charge ruling. LVT said they cannot make any service charge demands until past accounts were produced for a previous 6 years. No accounts were ever produced but the demands continued and they blackmailed two other sellers to get it.

QUESTION
How do I/we stop these spurious claims and stop the 'blackmailing' of future sales?

Is there a process or body I/we can apply to by which we can effectivlely shut them up and silence this for once and for all time, and force them not to continue any further claims for these amounts?

Poppy
19-01-2010, 20:39 PM
Buy out the freeholder using the collective enfranchisement process.

and/or

Write to all lessees and tell them not to pay anything unless properly sanctioned by the RTM company.

Sounds like the freeholder is a tad angry with y’all.

thevaliant
19-01-2010, 21:17 PM
Agree with Poppy.

Turn that RTM company into an RTE company and all his threats and bluster will go away.

Tony P
19-01-2010, 21:21 PM
Are you saying there is no process by which they can be silenced from continually making incorrect demands and their blackmail threats based on them?

We are looking at CE but until then our lives are blighted, as they have been for my 9 years here. It's not just the recent RTM process they made us resort to, but that has certainly upped the game somewhat!

Poppy
19-01-2010, 21:25 PM
There is always something you can do. Ask your solicitor to send a put up or shut up letter! Team that with a letter to each lessee as I've previously said. Educate the lessees.

Tony P
19-01-2010, 23:55 PM
Thanks Poppy.

I've done my own 'put up or shut up' letters before (using exactly those words and once "Sh1t or get off the pot") - several times, but to no avail. They ignore my challenges to sue me despite my telling them it will allow them to add 8% County Court interest.

You can't keep 'crying wolf' for ever and action must follow - but what?

Maybe from a Solicitor it may show a little more intent. But even if after a Solicitors 'put up or shut up' and it continues, what remedy is there? - my original question.

All my past letters have just fueled the F who writes to others saying I am wrong, alone or otherwise discredits me to them.

The other lessees are always copied but they are generally submissive and have no stomach to stand up against someone "as powerful as a Landlord"!

This is the 21st century, not feudal times.

animal
20-01-2010, 05:55 AM
This is the 21st century, not feudal times.

Some people do not believe this...

You could challenge liability in the LVT, however it costs and if the blighter is that persistent it probably won't stop anyway. Another alternative is seeking an injunction, again at a cost. If the RTM does this, you must make sure the costs are recoverable either through the lease or the articles of the RTM. I can't advise on what grounds, but harassment may be a possibility :-)

James 2009
20-01-2010, 07:29 AM
This is not my area of spcialism at all, but is there not a case for suing for malicious nuisance? In the meantime enfranchise and start taking action to correct his 'patchwork' works which have devalued your property.

daveeyes
20-01-2010, 08:14 AM
just out of interest.. and maybe a general warning to others... are you able to name the management company you are dealing with?

Poppy
20-01-2010, 09:41 AM
Inadvisable.

jeffrey
20-01-2010, 09:50 AM
Question: if the RTM Co. has acquired management powers, L has none- so why is it doing any works at all?

andydd
20-01-2010, 20:37 PM
Question: if the RTM Co. has acquired management powers, L has none- so why is it doing any works at all?

My thought too....did he sneak in under cover of darkness and decorate ?

Gordon999
20-01-2010, 20:52 PM
Tony,

Are you holding letter from freeholder or its solicitor to confirm it admits your RTM has the right to takeover the service charge account and administration of building maintenance ?

Tony P
20-01-2010, 23:07 PM
Are you holding letter from freeholder or its solicitor to confirm it admits your RTM has the right to takeover the service charge account and administration of building maintenance ?

We, the Lessees, used a 'specialist RTM formation Agent' firm to follow the process. The Freeholder did not object to the notices and in time we were advised we could commence from an Acquisition Date.

We have no such letter you mention - but perhaps the Agents do. Should they? I thought the Rights were automatically acquired under the process in the absence of objections.

Because the Freeholder still owned a flat in the building he attended RTM meetings where Interim Service Charge contributions were unanomously agreed together with other matters including a planned expenditure program. But from that day on he has not co-operated or paid his agreed share and been totally obstructive and threatening towards the RTM, its Directors and individual Lessees.

Preston
20-01-2010, 23:30 PM
Some people do not believe this...

You could challenge liability in the LVT, however it costs and if the blighter is that persistent it probably won't stop anyway. Another alternative is seeking an injunction, again at a cost. If the RTM does this, you must make sure the costs are recoverable either through the lease or the articles of the RTM. I can't advise on what grounds, but harassment may be a possibility :-)

The LVT route seems worth looking at. Its cheap, costs cannot be awarded against you if you lose and their decisions are legally enforceable.

Various leaflets on the RPTS website explain the basics. Tribunals tend to be fairly friendly towards "non qualified" applicants.

Gordon999
22-01-2010, 15:52 PM
Tony,

Ask your RTM formation agent to produce the "documents" to prove the RTM process was completed,