We are leaseholders and have a share of the freehold in a block of 50 flats. The property manager for the block charges £258 each time we remortgage – as a consent to remortgage. This case found that a proportionate charge was £40+VAT: Solitaire Limited v Cherry Lillian Norton [2012] UKUT 1 (LC). http://landschamber.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk//Aspx/view.aspx?id=823. Could you advise if we can challenge this £258 fee? Also, if we let the flat we are charged a consent-to-let fee of a similar amount each time there is a new tenant. Any advice much appreciated.
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Thank you, that’s very helpful. We’ll look into this some more to try to get a resolution.
Sorry to hear that Bex. This is an extortionate fee for a remortgage consent. You should certainly challenge it.
If you own a share of the freehold, you should have full control of decision making for the freehold company and should switch to a Managing Agent that does not over-charge on these "hidden fees". You should start by finding out who the Directors of your freehold company are and ask them to serve notice on the current Agent.
If you need any further advice, please feel free to get in touch.