Q: The problem was that for the first five or six years of the development we were VAT exempt because our service charges were paid direct to the developer. That at least is clear in all VAT related searches. Now the developer (not us) has sold most of the properties and handed over control to […]
Q: Our building (65 apartments, seven stories) is due to be decorated this year. At a previous AGM we were advised by the management company that is was best to engage their in-house surveyor for this project. We agreed and a specification was drawn up. Initial suggestion: the work will cost about £80,000, and the […]
Poor Performance Q: I continue to confront the employees of our managing agents with evidence of their poor performance. The root of the problem is their total reliance on sub-contractors to deliver services without supervision or follow up resulting in irregular basic services and poor standards. Following a recent visit to their head office I […]
Commonhold Q: Last year FPRA provided us with opinions on various resolutions submitted to our AGM. which were very helpful. We are now approaching this year’s AGM. While we have received no resolutions to date, the rumour mill now suggests the same group are plotting again. Given the Australian connection of one of our owners we are […]
AGM in Garden Q: We usually have our AGM in a local church hall. One of our Committee members was keen to investigate having this in our garden to increase attendance. Where do we stand from a liability perspective? If someone has a trip, falls and hurts themselves while at the church, presumably this comes […]
Fire Risk and Asbestos Q: We are the leaseholders of a Victorian house converted into five flats, the fifth of which is a self-contained basement flat. We run our own management company. The owner of the basement flat wishes to sell, and his potential purchaser’s solicitor has asked for a fire risk assessment of the […]
Parking Problems Q: We need some advice on car parking at our development as we are about to appoint a car park management company to manage our car park. We have an issue with one tenant/lessee who is sub-letting their car parking space to a person who does not live at the development. Obviously with […]
Asbestos Q: We are completing form LPE1 for the sale of one of our flats. One question asks if there has been an asbestos survey done. There has not. Is it compulsory for us to have this survey carried out? – and how much is it likely to cost? We are a block of six […]
Overseas Owners and Getting Recognition Q: We face a number of challenges because the majority of units are held by overseas leaseholders from the Middle East, China, Singapore, Japan, etc. The level of understanding of English is variable and some documents or emails have to be translated. Our inaugural and further meetings will have to […]
Fire Safety Q: We have just had some fire prevention work carried out in our black. It began in the social housing and is now being carried out in the private area. Essentially, they had to put fire protection materials in any gaps behind the door surrounds and also where there might be gaps in […]
