http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/list/8 EN Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:35:30 +0000 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:35:30 +0000 Property Phorum 5.1.6 600 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65577#msg-65577 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Reg Lynch)
The only course open to you is to take action yourself then as per my previous post.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65577#msg-65577 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:35:30 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65575#msg-65575 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jackie rokotnitz) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65575#msg-65575 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:22:13 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65561#msg-65561 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Reg Lynch)
Your lease might also allow you take action against the shop owner if you wanted. You don't need a lawyer to go to County Court arbitration.

If the dog is causing a nuisance the Council should act. If they don't - start the complaints procedure and go to the Local Government Ombudsman. This is the only way we find we can get Lambeth to act but it does get results - and it's free and easy to do.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65561#msg-65561 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:23:29 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65556#msg-65556 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jackie rokotnitz)
Another point. Our leases say "No students. No multiple lettings". What a JOKE. THe place is awash with students bunking up three to a bed. Do the management do anything? No they dont. But if you're two seconds late with paying your service charge you have a threatening letter and court orders. All this is not against our building - it's against Peverel our managing agent. THey are just awful.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65556#msg-65556 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:12:26 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65554#msg-65554 forum@london-se1.co.uk (longlaner) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65554#msg-65554 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:06:26 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65552#msg-65552 forum@london-se1.co.uk (sarahmc) It isn't manned by anyone.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65552#msg-65552 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:57:45 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65551#msg-65551 forum@london-se1.co.uk (longlaner) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65551#msg-65551 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:53:50 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65548#msg-65548 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jackie rokotnitz) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65548#msg-65548 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:26:45 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65546#msg-65546 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Mlis)
Our service charges certainly are very reasonable but we don't feel that we are getting a reasonable level of service for them! And this includes the 'unseen' things like basic maintenance...]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65546#msg-65546 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:06:07 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65539#msg-65539 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Reg Lynch)
Has anyone tried getting procurement consultants in to review service charges? I mean the kind of people who go into companies and find ways of saving money and don't get paid unless they identify real savings?

Some of the big increases in our building came from huge hikes in utilities and insurance (terrorism cover in particular). We shopped around and made big savings. But I'm mindful of Jackie's point that people have day jobs hence the enquiy about procurement consultants.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65539#msg-65539 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:29:50 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65533#msg-65533 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jackie rokotnitz) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65533#msg-65533 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:23:11 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65527#msg-65527 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Reg Lynch) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65527#msg-65527 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:46:17 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65510#msg-65510 forum@london-se1.co.uk (longlaner) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65510#msg-65510 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 20:39:19 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65508#msg-65508 forum@london-se1.co.uk (longlaner)
But other things that really boost service charges are, I know, completely unrewarding albeit essential things like lift servicing and repairs to communal parts one barely even knew existed. You don't see where the money is going, because it's going into things you don't see - I hope that isn't too tautologous.

Managing agents seem to me often simply to be very out of touch with what's going on in buildings, as well as incapable of negotiating effectively with contractors who provide services on-site. They rely on owners' inertia. They are often hard to turf out, too, as they in some cases have unbreakable links to the freeholders of the properties they run.

It's all pretty grim, and £8,000 beggars belief. From what I know, £5 per square foot is at current rates considered about top whack, except in a few very high-end developments around Park Lane.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65508#msg-65508 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:53:45 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65504#msg-65504 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Jerry) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65504#msg-65504 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:22:11 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65502#msg-65502 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jackie rokotnitz) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65502#msg-65502 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:04:58 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65491#msg-65491 forum@london-se1.co.uk (janefs)
Can we clone them for our building, please?]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65491#msg-65491 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:40:08 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65489#msg-65489 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Jerry) Ah, you are indeed lucky, this is unfortunately not the case in many buildings, most residents representative bodies give freely of their time but experienced "managing agents" can run rings around them. The problem is that the sanction of "we'll fire you" is only to be used at the last resort because it leads to months of arranging a new agent and a reputation for firing agents.
I implore those of you now complaining to your residents assoc, or freeholders complaining to their board, to take part in the running of your buildings, especially if you have any professional experience to offer. I find that many of the people who are on these boards and committees find themselves personally or jointly vilified by owners of flats who are too selfish and/or lazy to offer their time to serve.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65489#msg-65489 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:13:03 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65485#msg-65485 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Reg Lynch) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65485#msg-65485 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:50:14 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65483#msg-65483 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Jerry) However you are right in that the developers almost always underestimate the costs for maintaining a building, no surprise there though really.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65483#msg-65483 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:19:52 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65480#msg-65480 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Reg Lynch)
Surely we cannot just blame the managing agents for large increases. Shouldn't the governing body and/or residents' association be to blame for not scrutinising charges and failing to hire competent managing agents and direct and manage them effectively?

I wonder too if the developers of some of these new developments are not carrying out shoddy work and selling part-finished buildings. They sell with a low(ish) service charge until their interest in the building is gone and leave owners to carry out "essential repairs and maitenance" which are really required to complete work the developer should have done in the first place.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/65480/65480#msg-65480 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:38:40 +0000