Q
A group of us are ready to challenge the service charges, which are excessive. We have produced a very detailed case of systemic over-charging and poor management.
But we are aware that we will not get back any of the money we spend on this case if we win. And next year we will probably have to go through the whole thing again. Should we opt for right to manage instead?
A
This is the conundrum. Leaseholders – and it is excellent that there is a group of you – can fight and win an exhaustive service charge dispute but you will still have the landlord and his appointed manager in your lives.
Getting rid of them altogether with a right to manage application – if you have the numbers and the site qualifies – is a better first step. Then when you and your own choice of manager have full control of the accounts, you can start you legal actions.
Word of warning: the scummier landlords in leasehold will dream up a major works section 20 as soon as they get wind of an RTM. So be discrete, and efficient.
