Hello everyone,

I know there were some representations made to L and Q a while back in terms of the major works they undertook and the bills they sent to leaseholders.

I don’t think we settled the bill they sent us a couple of years ago while this was going on and did not hear from them. So I had assumed, probably foolishly, that they had forgotten about the money.

But we are selling our place and I am told by my solicitor that they want c£7000.

I wondered if anyone had any news on their experience on the major works bill?

Thank you.

Sadly if the work has already been carried out then there is not a great deal you can do.

As lease holder you should have been issued a section 20 notice explaining there are works being planned and tendered. it is at that junction you should employ your own surveyor and solicitor to to verify and contest charges are necessary and priced correctly

The freeholder and their surveyor are working together in their interest. Freeholder wants their building in A1 condition and the surveyor is employing their contractors. If there is a management company they are taking a percentage fee also so this is where and why it can get racked up, they will do EVERYTHING.

You can write and abuse them as much as you like but the only way to contest anything is in a legal and professional way. And when i say professional i mean a qualified position, certified, accredited, knighted.....not your friends uncle who's been a roofer for 20 years.

Post works the only thing you can do is inspect the work. If it has not been carried out exactly to the specification then you can withhold funds until it has been done, again you need to make them aware of the issues and verified by a surveyor.

To be honest if you want out quickly with out all the stress factor this cost into the sale of the property and agree to pay as part of the conveyancing (with your solicitor) if you don't have the fund to hand. Obviously talk it through with your solicitor as this sort of stuff really slows down a sale.

In future never ever ever ever by leasehold.......i will also be taking my own advice on this one