Aerials Q: Since our last AGM I have set up a folder for risk assessment/relevant details for outside contractors, should we employ them. There are a couple of matters that each of our flat owners deals with themselves, ie windows, tv aerials, and it was in this context that we had a discussion. If we […]
Liability Q: I have noticed on our current property owners’ policy schedule that employer’s liability is not included. We think that this is something we should have, to cover people doing work for us. FPRA Hon Consultant Belinda Thorpe replies: A: This is a simple one. Yes, anyone that has an employee must have […]
Hostile Meetings Q: I live in a Victorian house converted into four flats and am secretary of our company. For about 10 years I have done all the work for the company, including organising our meetings. I always ask the other three directors what they want to put on the agenda and type it up […]
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 […]
Buying the Freehold Q: We have had several issues in the sale and purchase of 3 of the 14 flats in recent years due to having an absent landlord (dissolved company) and the freehold is held by the Crown. 1. As a result we wish to buy the freehold and all the owners are in […]
Section 20 Admin Fee Q: We are in the process of preparing for major works due to happen this summer. We agreed percentages payable to the surveyor at the start of the process. The costed tenders have come and, out of the blue, the managing agents advise they can add “S20 administration fee of 2.5% […]
Statutory Recognition Q: We followed your guidance on the recognition process. We got what were thought were enough signatures – 60 per cent of flat owners. We had included the commercial unit and also the two shared ownership flats. But it seems they aren’t happy to include them despite the fact that they are members of […]
Disabled Access Q: We were interested to read your advice in October 2018 regarding reasonable adaptations to the communal area of a block where a request is made by a resident leaseholder. We have a disabled resident whose wife died recently. He is now asking for us to modify the entrance doors to the block […]
New Rules on VAT Q: We read in the press an alarming note on VAT – New HMRC Rules mean that managing agents will have to charge VAT on cost of staff that managing agents themselves employ on behalf of leaseholders. In our case, this was the situation when the leaseholders took over the freehold […]
Lack of Bank Statements Q: We have held a second meeting with the managing agent accountant and the property manager for our retirement development. Further concerns regarding the management of our three reserve funds have arisen. On request we have been provided with the full 2018 bank statements for the service charge account. No reserve […]
