advice on rite to buy property and service charge?

Question

i am in the process of buying my cottage flat from the council. About 3 months ago i recieved a letter from the right to buy section detailing how much they wanted me to pay annually for the service charge on the property. This amounted to £2600. i was furious. They detailed why i was to pay this however after looking at the documents i noted that the majority of the service charge was for the up keep of communal entrances, gardens etc. I wrote a letter back and asked them to reconsider the charge as most of it didn't apply to me as i do not have any communal areas. I got a phone call today saying they have reduced it to £1800. i still think this is way over the top but i have been told that they will not reduce the price. Can anyone advice me what to do next to dispute this. My friend lives in a flat with communal entrances, gardens and an elavator, yet his service charge is £1100 annually. its really putting a doubt on whether i should buy the propery.

they also told me i couldn't replace my windows, this is due to the regeneration that will be taking place in the area and that they would fit the windows. but if its my own flat then surely i should be able to fit my own windows.

Answer 1

i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole to buy it, the council are obviously tryin to take liberties already if they've reduced the service charge already with you only complaining once about it, this is shifty as if they know it should be nothing or much much less!
be careful and good luck, but i wouldnt buy it if i were you!

Answer 2

Your "council" sounds like the home owner's associations that are sometimes involved in neighborhoods here in the United States. Avoid them if at all possible. I have yet to find one that doesn't ride roughshod over the rights of the home owners they are supposed to protect and service. They charge a small fortune to tell the home owner what they can and can't do with their own property. I suggest finding another cottage that doesn't come with the extra baggage of a council.

Answer 3

The reduction you have received of 800 pounds is highly suspect what were the reasons given for the revised charges?Something is not quite right ,councils have clear price policies they rarely deviate,I agree with J9 "DONT EVEN GO THERE"

Answer 4

Check the small print and see exactly what it is they are expecting you to pay towards. They should provide a total breakdown of the cost, consult a lawyer or maybe ask if any of your neighbours have been through this in the past.

If you don't have access to or use of the communial areas then you won't have to pay it. It sounds like they are trying their luck, be firm.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Tell them to go suck eggs.