I have purchased a shared ownership flat and have to pay a service charge to the housing association for communal services. My issue is that the development has electronic entrance gates that have not been working since last november – almost 1 year!- does anybody know if I am within my rights to withhold the payment for the proportion that is allocated to the service and maintenance of the gates until the finally get them fixed. I have spoken to the management company many time on this issue and they have said that they ran out of money to get them fixed! but in April a ‘new ‘ accountancy period started so I am dumbfounded as to why they still have not been sorted. On the breakdown of the charges the proportion for the maintenance of the gates was a fairly high share.
My guess is that they are being honest with you and that there is not enough money for this. Have you looked at the accounts? It may be that you have non-payers in the Association or it may be that they did their sums wrong at the beginning. Either way, if you force the issue you will certainly see an increase in your charges to cover it. Maybe this is worthwhile for you?
Become Treasurer of the Association and allocate the budget yourself in future.
TRILLIONS MISSING - And so it CONTINUES. Will things EVER change!?!?!
November 28th, 2009 at 12:17 am
You’re not really within your rights to do that. You can threaten to, but then they would have a right to sue. In the US, they could even foreclose for non-payment of fees.
Keep badgering them. Call every day. You have my permission to be quite annoying in your quest.
Good luck.
References :
November 28th, 2009 at 12:29 am
My guess is that they are being honest with you and that there is not enough money for this. Have you looked at the accounts? It may be that you have non-payers in the Association or it may be that they did their sums wrong at the beginning. Either way, if you force the issue you will certainly see an increase in your charges to cover it. Maybe this is worthwhile for you?
Become Treasurer of the Association and allocate the budget yourself in future.
References :