Together Property Management - Unnecessary Works and High Bill

[Punk Rock Loser]

Since purchasing our flat in December 2019 we’ve already paid £12,000 for “maintenance works” for the building - this is a Victorian conversion flat with 4 flats in the building. This was the price of a new carpet and paint in the communal hallway.

 

Yesterday I received an email from the property management company quoting £45,000 excluding VAT for external works of the building.

 

The vagueness of the breakdown of the costs terrify me - “£10,000 for decoration” The list of works are unbelievable and unnecessary.

This company are complete crooks. I’m unable to find any loop holes to refuse to pay or fight as they’re extremely clever.

 

The company is based in Jersey and they’ve served us with the section 20. They’re demanding the money by December even though the works will not have taken place by then. The money they’re asking for is unrealistic, the cost of living is hard all ready but to ask for this money in a one off payment before the works have even taken place. We simply cannot afford to pay this.

 

Can anyone help with advice?

This is our first property we have bought and it feels like such a grey area with property management companies when I’ve been trying to find help and guidance of what to do.

 

I’ve reread all the documents our solicitor sent across when we purchased the flat and there is nothing to this scale - just ground rent.

 

I’d be extremely grateful for any advice or guidance.

[Punk Rock Loser]

Morning HB,

Thanks so much for your quick response and pointing me in the right direction! It’s my first time using this forum.

 

We’re currently reaching out to the other owners (two of which are renting out their flats) and we spoke to our downstairs neighbour last night who mentioned 5 years ago similar works took place by a different property management company.

 

Just adding some new information to this post  in case it changes the advice.

 

I’ve just received confirmation that it was in fact the same property management company that carried out the same works 5 years previous and billed the leaseholders the same amount for external repair. 

[Punk Rock Loser]

The only documents the solicitor sent across were invoices for ground rent and services charges up to 2017 which have averaged around an annual payment of £2,000.

 

No documents or records of previous works.

[Punk Rock Loser]

Hi @stu007

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to advise. With your input we’ve submitted our rejection of works submitted by the surveyor with your points.

 

When we purchased the property there was no mention of these works - only “external redecoration works” which were to take place in 2022. Reviewing the breakdown from the surveyor he has quoted £10,000 for redecoration. However, the breakdown of the £45,000 includes works to the fabric of the building.

 

We’ve requested accounts and receipts for the previous years and what they actually spend our yearly service charge on as there appears to be no reserve fund.

 

thank you again for your advice.

@Mr Bates sorry to hear this. Is it the same property management company? 

[Punk Rock Loser]

Hi Tyke97,

 

Wow. This is VERY insightful. Thanks so much for sending across, will be reading through this and hopefully I’ll be able to reach out to others who have had to deal with together property. However, it’s very concerning to read all this - looks like this will be a yearly on going battle until we sell our flat. Sooner than we hoped  

 

Thanks again!

[Punk Rock Loser]

Thank you so much again Stu007.

 

Having all these associated links and points about the Taube Family in one place and online will hopefully help others in the same situation, it’s really opened my eyes to what we are dealing with here. 

 

Interesting point about the company numbers - is this something I can act upon?

 

Fraud: what we can and can’t do

COMPANIESHOUSE.BLOG.GOV.UK

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News and updates from Companies House

I’ve reached out to this charity

 

https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/contact/
 

I’m hoping someone who has taken Together Property / Hamilton King/ Southern Land Securities to a tribunal reaches out.

 

To confirm - our landlord is Southern Land securities (The Taube Family)

 

This is the surveyor they’ve used (Lewis Berkeley) would be interesting if they were also connected to Taube Family.

 

Home / Lewis Berkeley - Proactive Property Advice

WWW.LEWISBERKELEY.CO.UK

 

[Punk Rock Loser]

Mr Bates - thank you for your insight. Would you recommend we get our own surveyor? Did that make a difference to TPM? At the moment 3 out of 4 of us in the building have written a letter rejecting ALL works. Do you think that’s enough for the first stage? We’re yet to receive a response from TPM (assuming they’ll take the full 30 days to respond).

 

What has been your process to get to the point of the Tribunal?

 

When were these works to take place?

 

Is everyone in your building in agreement against the works?

 

Who was the surveyor TPM used?

 

Tyke97 thank you for sending this across. Like you mention, it would be great to hear the outcome and opinion of Emma’s story.

 

Stu007 thank you for the links again! I was just curious about Lewis Berkeley as it seems odd that that a company would find this much “work” doing to the building. Mr Bates was it the same surveyor? Wondering as like you mentioned, your own surveyor didn’t quote a fraction of the amount TPM surveyor has.

 

 

[Punk Rock Loser]

Thanks Stu007!

 

We received a response from TPM (special delivery may I add) on Saturday which was a dampener to the weekend.

 

Unfortunately, there is no backing down, we’ve challenged their “redecoration” and questioned the rest of the works set out from the surveyor and we had a measly “there are other factors which add up to this total” no specification or clarity what they asked the surveyor to look for. We’re  also challenging how they expect us to “budget” when we only received this figure last month.

 

I’m currently working on our response and will definitely be referring to your PDF - asking which company and number our flat is dealing with.

[Punk Rock Loser]

Unfortunately after speaking with the councils Private Landlord department - they’re unable to help or advise. However, I have been forwarded onto Housing and Health.

 

We’ve submitted our second letter. Now, we wait…

[Punk Rock Loser]

Hi SJ13,

 

Thank you for posting the breakdown of your works. Out of curiosity what stage did you apply to the first tier tribunal?

 

At the moment we have received a surveyor’s quote of works (no invoices yet) and simply rejected all works.

 

what would you advise from your experience?

[Punk Rock Loser]

Morning all,

I don’t have much to update on since my last post. On Friday 7th October TPM finally replied to my letter challenging their planned works which was dated on the 10th of August - however did not mention or acknowledge my question of what the company name and number of the landlord was.

We still have not received an invoice for all the works which we’re expected to pay for on the 25th of December…

[Punk Rock Loser]

Hi everyone,

 

Unfortunately this morning I have received the final Statement of Anticipated Service Charge of Expenditure due to be paid on the 25th of December 2022.

 

£65,637.

 

Across the 4 flats in the building - we’re expected to pay £16,409.25 each.

 

Is anyone able to advise on next steps to fight and reject this? I don’t even need to mention the Cost of Living Crisis but I’m finding it hard to fathom that they’ve managed to exceed the already ridiculous quote of £45,000 back in the summer.
 

Thank you