Unreasonable Service Charge Invoice

[SimSSW]

Hi, I'm a Freeholder, I've bought my house 3year ago, But the Council keep sending me the Service Charge invoices and Service Charge letters to ask for payment, Actually they have not provide any service to my house at all.

I've sent them an email to prove that I'm a Freeholder, And the Leasehold Officer has replied that, "Says"
(I can confirm that your property is freehold, however, you are liable to make some contribution towards the service charges.)

They just wasting my time, What I need to do next and any professional advice I can get from?

I'd be gratefull to receive any advice. Thanks in advance.

[black_cat51]

i would ask them to prove you are liable.

[naomi24]

Have they listed the services they are asking you to pay for?

Are you sure it's not just a Council Tax Bill which everyone has to pay?

[Prudie]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/9200995/Ask-the-expert-paying-service-charges.html

Have a look at the question from Roger (2nd question) in the above link. It seems some freeholders are still required to pay towards upkeep of communal areas. You should have been informed of this when you bought the property.

[factor-fiction]

Have you got anything in writing from when you bought the house that says when this charge is/isn't payable?

[boxtops]

I don't understand the question, unless your property is part of a communal area where even Freeholders have to pay for communal charges. What is the service charge for? Somewhere there will be a document which tells you what the council does for your property and presumably for other neighbours too. Have you asked your neighbours if they get these bills, too?

[boxtops]

... for example, I know of a lady who lives in a block of flats, the flats are freehold but everyone has to pay towards the maintenance of the communal stairways, car park, etc.

[factor-fiction]

Is this the service charge which you were paying two years ago (when you were a leaseholder) in March 2012
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Civil/Question1111774.html
However the timings don't seem to match as you now say about buying the house 3 years ago so maybe it's not the same property

[factor-fiction]

Sorry- ignore that- I got confused as you have just posted on a 2 year old thread. Apologies

[woofgang]

when you bought the house, you will have been told what your service liability was and you will have agreed to it.

[Jeza]

I posted this on the other thread. I will repeat it here.


19:25 Sat 22nd Mar 2014 Report
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Jeza
I/we own our own property but have to pay a service charge to the local authority. We live in a cul-de-sac, the charge is for cutting the grass and trimming the hedges which are part of the road. They also pick up litter. They also do other bits and bobs.