Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Is Haringey Council your Freeholder?
Hello
I own a leasehold property; Haringey council are my freeholders. I've recently been hit with an inexplicably high estimate for some building works that are due to be carried out on the building in which my flat forms part of. In particular, the cost of the roof replacement works and the scaffolding is rather excessive.
Just wondering if anyone on this site is in the same position as me? and would like to share their experience.
Thank you
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rob B on
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You have the right to have service charges assessed by the property tribunal to check they are reasonable. You say the scaffolding and re-roofing charges seem excessive. Have you had your own quotes to compare? Any challenge to the tribunal will have to be evidence based so arm yourself with knowledge!
Alternatively would you want to explore buying your freehold? You would need at least 50% of the flats in the building to participate. I’m a lawyer who specialises in this area so I can assist if you and your fellow leaseholders are interested. I act against councils all the time (normally Westminster and Camden).
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Scaffolding is surprisingly expensive.
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Permalink Reply by 1nm8m253yo8t5 on
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I agree with Percy and am a valuer that specialises in these issues and can help you with determining and negotiating the correct value for the freehold.
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Buying the freehold is one thing....assuming you can gather together the sufficient number of fellow leaseholders and have the money to pay for it. But in my experience the more leaseholders you have involved, the more difficult it is to manage. In the meantime, there is a booklet avaliable from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) about the Section 20 consultation process that public sector Landlords need to follow in order to undertake major works. It describes all the diffirent stages of the process etc. Most of their info you can download but this particular booklet isnt so you'd have to give them a call or order through their website (maybe, not sure)
http://www.lease-advice.org/
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Thanks Antoinette, I have already written to them.
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Thanks for your comments. I really wouldn't be interested in buying the freehold at the moment but appreciate your advice Percy Pig. Thanks
I can't believe that scaffolding would cost £4,957! (Haringey's estimate not including removal of waste) A basic internet search tells me that it is estimated to cost around £1,100 (for a building of similar size and structure) Thanks
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on
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Is that the block charge?
I live in a block with 20 flats. 70% council tenants so buying the freehold will never be an option. Our roof was replaced last year along with windows and doors and other external maintenance. My windows had already been replaced, and my door but they made me replace the door again. I received two estimates for the work, the first for around 10k when I bought my flat 18 months ago, this was later upped to 12k. I don't know how much they'll take off for the windows. I haven't had a bill yet but when it arrives I'll have 6 weeks to pay or arrange finance (if over 10k they put a charge on your property - luckily I can afford to part-pay cash).
The other bad news is after they finished the roof they left the scaffolding up all summer... With green canvas stopping any light getting in my flat.
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A week?
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I wouldn't know! But by the time the green canvas was down, summer was definitely over.
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Permalink Reply by SarahC on
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I was a Haringey leaseholder until recently and there were two leaseholder organisations which I sometimes received emails from: HLA and HLCG - if you Google "Haringey leaseholder" they'll come up.
I got the impression they were rivals fighting with each other, which all seemed a bit unprofessional. But they might have some info about this kind of thing online.
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Thanks Sarach C I have written to both organisations so far.
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Out of curiosity, where do you live? I'm on cornwall rd n15 and am in a similar situation right now.
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