DISGRACEFUL Management Company!!!

[nathal]

I bought an apartment for investment a few years age.

The management company that were in charge at the time went bankrupt, June last year.

New managent co. took over.

Received bill for £3500 (£1200, before bankruptcy)

Disputed some of bill. (such as £59 admin charges, late fees etc,.)

Also oil bill of £175, £168 for 2 months when the apartment was empty.

New tenants arrived in October.

Heating was broke. Spoke to management company who, said it will be fixed when we get the parts to fix it. (whole apartment block without heat for 4 weeks)
Heating came back on, but two days letter back of, with letter through door saying pay for oil before re-connection.
Sent cheque for £357 to pay for oil, as had tenants in. Thought nothing of it until two weeks later, tenants called, still no heat.
Spoke to management, said sorry will turn heating on. 1 Week later still not on. Rang them, they said oh another £1645 before we turn it back on.
They received payment on 28/11, and still no heat???

What do i do?

[JonCris]

See a good solicitor NOW! otherwise you may find your tenants witholding their rent

[demon_x_slash]

As JonCris says, see a solicitor about the management company.

In the mean time, I would go and see your tenants personally (giving them 24hrs notice of course ), sit down and have a cup of tea and explain the situation. Then make arrangements for heaters/free-standing radiators for them until you can get all this sorted out. The reason they can start to withold rent is that the place is not considered habitable without heat, particularly in winter. If they take you to court, they are entitled to claim back a percentage of the rent they've paid while this problem is ongoing (N4B, distress? There's a term for it, can't recall off the top of my head).

If you do provide alternative heating for them (you should), get them to sign something that lists what you've given them and the action you've taken them, i.e.:
Problems with management company repairing heating, during problem tenants supplied with three oil heaters, (date), any further problems, landlord contactable on 020..... Signed, Landlord and both tenants.

Always leave a paper trail! It helps if things go pearshaped later...
Hope that helps...

[JonCris]

As the landlord it's important that you make provision for them asap as they could involve the local authority & you really don't want them becoming involved.