Leasehold Extension And Getting Neighbours Names And Addresses

[wobbegong]

Depending on the circumstances, you might be able to get collective enfranchisement under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (i.e. the right to buy the freehold)

Thanks FaQQer, I didn't know that.

[SueEllen]

The Leaseholders are such dimwits. According to the Lease they have to pay for all costs and maintenance yet when comes to buying the Freehold they object on the grounds that they could end up with huge maintenance costs. The fact that they have to pay for the same now does not compute.

Lots of people are only interested in things if it effects their pocket in the short term.

They forget that:
1. They have to sell the flat one day and with a high service charge it's going to be harder.
2. They can decrease costs over the long term.

[Paddy]

I am not saying anything about the original poster's situation. I am not making any comment about the original poster's landlord (or anyone elses landlord). The following is just my opinion about leasehold flats in general...

The main thing that puts me off buying a flat is...

I read the "WHICH? Guide to buy, own and sell a flat", and towards the end of the book there is a section titled "The nightmare scenario - and solutions", where they mention several acts of parliament that governments have brought in over the years to try to protect tenants from being shafted by unscrupulous landlords who inflate service charges. An unscrupulous landlord's ultimate aim would be to make the tenant run out of money and forfeit the lease, so the landlord then gets ownership of the flat and can sell it to make a nice fat profit. Despite several attempts over many years, they seem to have still not resolved this situation. I've always had quite a high opinion of the WHICH? publications, so when even they say:

"It should be pointed out that although such a nightmare scenario could - and does - occur, not all landlords are unscrupulous"

...then that really makes me think I would not be willing to take the risk of that happening. The book that I refer to here is dated April 2004, so the situation may have changed by now (but I would be surprised if it has been resolved satisfactorilly, considering how many attempts have been made already by various governments).

Went to a LVT this year. It cam down to what is considered a reasonable charge. A reasonable charge was based upon previous years charge that were unchallenged hence it was an up hill struggle. Managed to get about 20% of the charges deemed to be unlawful. The law is still heavily weighted on the Landlord or Freeholder.

The Leaseholders are such dimwits. According to the Lease they have to pay for all costs and maintenance yet when comes to buying the Freehold they object on the grounds that they could end up with huge maintenance costs. The fact that they have to pay for the same now does not compute.

[Jeff Maginty]

..

[TheFaQQer]

Surely you can only buy it if they offer it for sale, and if they're making money hand over fist from leaseholders, why would they sell?

Why do you think the leaseholder will sell the lease if its easy money for him to just charge whatever comes to his mind in the guise of maintenance or whatever.

Depending on the circumstances, you might be able to get collective enfranchisement under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (i.e. the right to buy the freehold)

[fullyautomatix]

Why do you think the leaseholder will sell the lease if its easy money for him to just charge whatever comes to his mind in the guise of maintenance or whatever.

Move to a freehold property, leasehold flats are the biggest scams going on.

[wobbegong]

We live in a block of flats where the freeholders are trying to charge us 7K per flat for service charges and improvement works even though the flat is only worth 100K

I was speaking to my partner last night and we want to get together with the other leaseholders and see whether they want to buy the freehold collectively.

Surely you can only buy it if they offer it for sale, and if they're making money hand over fist from leaseholders, why would they sell?

[TheFaQQer]

Have a look at the LEASE website, which has some good info.

We took our management agency to tribunal in the last place and won.

This house is leasehold, but no-one knows who to pay any more, so the rent hasn't been paid for decades now.

[doodab]

You can get the costs assessed by the LVT.

Lookup and read the LVT website.

WHS. Also look into the right to manage and right of enfranchisement (i.e. the right to buy the freehold). Getting 25/26 people together to buy the freehold could be difficult. The main reason people are interested in this is to save money on lease extensions. You can get all of the other benefits for less by taking over the management which is cheaper and easier.

You should also get a copy of the accounts to figure out where the money is going. 7k x 50 is £350k which seems like a lot of money for running costs but it could be they have some major work planned (in which case they should have consulted with tenants beforehand) and if it's necessary maintenance then buying the freehold won't make it go away, it will just make it harder to get it done.

[Paddy]

We live in a block of flats where the freeholders are trying to charge us 7K per flat for service charges and improvement works even though the flat is only worth 100K

I was speaking to my partner last night and we want to get together with the other leaseholders and see whether they want to buy the freehold collectively.

The block has 50 flats inside it

My question is how I can find the names and addresses of all the leaseholders - Some of the flats are rented out so knocking on each door obviously is not going to work (and people might get rightly suspicious)

I have called Land Registry who have said that it costs £4 per title copy

Does anyone have a better idea of what can be done here?

You have to spend money at the LR to do it.

The Management Company are obliged by law to give you the other leaseholders details but they will probably refuse.

It will be an uphill struggle to get anywhere because most people are apathetic.

Anyway, you will need all the leaseholders details and the free holders details.

You maybe able to sack the management company in any event.

You can contest the management charges, do this in writing immediately.

You can get the costs assessed by the LVT.

Lookup and read the LVT website.

[northernladuk]

Did I make a mistake trying to give sensible answer?

[MarillionFan]

We live in a block of flats where the freeholders are trying to charge us 7K per flat for service charges and improvement works even though the flat is only worth 100K

I was speaking to my partner last night and we want to get together with the other leaseholders and see whether they want to buy the freehold collectively.

The block has 50 flats inside it

My question is how I can find the names and addresses of all the leaseholders - Some of the flats are rented out so knocking on each door obviously is not going to work (and people might get rightly suspicious)

I have called Land Registry who have said that it costs £4 per title copy

Does anyone have a better idea of what can be done here?

Knock on doors and ask.

[TestMangler]

We live in a block of flats where the freeholders are trying to charge us 7K per flat for service charges and improvement works even though the flat is only worth 100K

I was speaking to my partner last night and we want to get together with the other leaseholders and see whether they want to buy the freehold collectively.

The block has 50 flats inside it

My question is how I can find the names and addresses of all the leaseholders - Some of the flats are rented out so knocking on each door obviously is not going to work (and people might get rightly suspicious)

I have called Land Registry who have said that it costs £4 per title copy

Does anyone have a better idea of what can be done here?

Move to a freehold property ?

[northernladuk]

Shouldn't there be a company run by all the owners that deals with communal issues and probably charges you all a fee to cover this and building insurace etc..

Shouldn't that have a pretty comprehensive list of all owners and contact details...

From experience of my block of flats and management company you have your work cut out getting enough people to be interested from 50!!!

[DeludedAussie]

We live in a block of flats where the freeholders are trying to charge us 7K per flat for service charges and improvement works even though the flat is only worth 100K

I was speaking to my partner last night and we want to get together with the other leaseholders and see whether they want to buy the freehold collectively.

The block has 50 flats inside it

My question is how I can find the names and addresses of all the leaseholders - Some of the flats are rented out so knocking on each door obviously is not going to work (and people might get rightly suspicious)

I have called Land Registry who have said that it costs £4 per title copy

Does anyone have a better idea of what can be done here?