Blocks of flats are usually maintained through a management company to which each tenant pays a proportion of the total bill for maintenance and repairs. The landlord might in some cases provide these services, or the management company might be a firm of surveyors or all the tenants acting together.

Problems can arise where the mangement company fails to carry out repairs or ceases to exist. Some leases allow the management company to omit or add to the services provided. Sometimes the management company needs to raise considerable sums for repairs but the tenants object because the repairs could be carried out cheaper by another contractor.

Many leases run for 99 years. Some were granted 40 or 50 years ago and are now considered too short to be security for a mortgage loan, making them difficult to sell. Tenants have rights to extend the term of their leases, and to purchase the freehold of the block. How do they group together and form a company or can they appoint trustees for the purpose ? What if only a few of the tenants want to purchase, or if they disagree with the landlord's valuation ?

We can advise on these and many other aspects of your lease.

Tel 0118 957 3425 Fax 0118 959 7302