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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think our neighbours are ridiculous for paying this and refuse to pay my "share"

999 replies

Hiphopapotamus4 · 16/05/2017 21:20

A house on our road came up for sale recently (its empty at the moment, was rented) and as you do, I had a nosey at the particulars on Right Move. In the description in says that there is a service charge of £500 per year. I thought this was odd as we pay no such charge and it's not a flat or leasehold or anything like that so I couldn't figure out what the charge was for.

I ran into another neighbour who made a comment about the price it was for sale for so I commented that I noticed it had a service charge and how odd that was. Neighbour gave me a funny look and said "yes, well we all pay the service charge" I said that we don't and have never been told anything about it or asked for payment. I asked her what it was for exactly and she didn't really know but kept saying "we all have to pay it".

Now, she has obviously been and spoken to some of the other neighbours about this and they are now annoyed that we don't pay when everyone else does. They want us to start paying it so that their share becomes less. However NOBODY knows what it is for, they all just pay it without questioning it. I said I wouldn't be paying anything unless they can tell me what it is for and what "service" I am receiving.

AIBU to think they have all been a bit foolish to pay so much money without questioning it and that they should stop paying it/find out what it's for rather than ask me to contribute!

To be clear, this is a fairly normal road with no communal areas and no "services" (other than the usual bin collections etc). Apparently the invoice just says "service charge" and does not specify exactly what service it is.

(I am currently the "bad neighbour" and need to make amends - may have to bribe the neighbourhood with homemade chocolate brownies then convince them to stage a mass refusal of payment and demand for refunds!)

OP posts:
ememem84 · 17/05/2017 07:23

My £500 money's on it being the rent they pay for the land their houses sit on (uncommon but it happens).

My parents have to pay a service charge where they live (something like £200 a year) but theirs is a private road any it pays for the upkeep of the drains road etc.

I'm surprised that no one can tell you what it's for.

I'd probably ring the estate agent if I were you. They should know. Can you download the house pack thing from the internets? is this still even a thing?

CeeCeeEnnEss · 17/05/2017 07:24

Shamelessly place marking...

peachgreen · 17/05/2017 07:29

Don't mind me, just place-marking...

angryladyboobs · 17/05/2017 07:32

Aren't you back yet?!

LTBiscuit · 17/05/2017 07:34

I am intrigued too. We pay a service charge but we live on s private estate

timeforabrewnow · 17/05/2017 07:35
LightastheBreeze · 17/05/2017 07:37

Estate agent will have to find out if they don't know or else how will they ever sell the house, I certainly wouldn't proceed with an offer without knowing all details or it could be £500 this year £1000 next year.

Hereward1332 · 17/05/2017 07:38

Chancel Repair Liability insurance? Possible if it was built on glebe land, but I'm not sure why this would be paid to the council.

NightWanderer · 17/05/2017 07:38

If the invoice isn't clear then encourage one of your neighbors to write to the council to clarify the charge and to dispute the charge as being unreasonably high.

Pengweng · 17/05/2017 07:40

Not at all place marking.

newdaylight · 17/05/2017 07:43

Ditto not placemarking

DurhamDurham · 17/05/2017 07:43

I hope you're at your neighbours asking because I've got to be at work soon Grin

Original poster
Hiphopapotamus4 · 17/05/2017 07:45

Sorry to keep you all waiting! Didn't want to go straight round (with muddy wellies and a wet dog) so I'm back home, showered and dressed and am just about to pop round with a tub of homemade biscuits as a bribe!

I'm strangely excited, DH thinks it's all going to come crashing down in a huge disappoint when it turns out to be some boring old fee but what does he know?!

OP posts:
ShatnersWig · 17/05/2017 07:45

Yes, come on, we're all waiting OP. The country is going to grind to a halt soon as none of us are going to work until we hear!

ShotsFired · 17/05/2017 07:46

I read this recently, but OP says it has been a fixed sum (and not new build) so it is a long shot: www.theguardian.com/money/2017/may/16/leasehold-uk-homeowners-ground-rents

Movingtobucks · 17/05/2017 07:47

£500 seems very steep for one of those historic annual payments - generally they're only a token amount. I can't decide whether I hope it is a scam (so OP doesn't have to pay) or not - I hate to think of vulnerable people being cheated out of potentially thousands.

JakeBallardswife · 17/05/2017 07:49

Ooh, intriguing. Not placemarking either, oh no.

Falconhoof1 · 17/05/2017 07:49

I want to find out what this is- placemarking!

nuttyslackster · 17/05/2017 07:50

Placemarking too

Whisky2014 · 17/05/2017 07:50

Placemarking

magimedi · 17/05/2017 07:51

I reckon it's a scam.

PacificDogwod · 17/05/2017 07:54

I know I'm late to this particular party, but it does sound highly dodgy to me - how long have al these household been paying that charge?!

Good on you, OP - you may become the hero of the neighbourhood or it is totally legit and you will end up having to pay too
Good luck!

angryladyboobs · 17/05/2017 07:56

I do think it's a scam though.

icanteven · 17/05/2017 07:57

Dying to find out - I hope she knows where her invoice is, or can tell you the bank details she pays to... I bet it's a scam that they all fell for 10 years ago or something.

Verticalvenetianblinds · 17/05/2017 07:57

Highlight of my week so far. I can see the headline 'local mumsnetter follows advice from nest of vipers to save elderly neighbours from scam'