Not paying factor fees... AIBU?

[Dazzedandconfused]

Starting to think I've maybe gone a bit too far now but I thought I'd ask impartial MNers.
I moved in to my first house just before lockdown (start of march). Not long after I got a letter from a factor fee company asking for a £50 "float" to cover emergencies. I was a bit confused by this as Its a 15 year old semi detached house in a small development (30 houses) in the middle of council houses so no private roads, drainage or anything. I emailed the factor company asking what the float is for and couldn't get a straight answer just generic statements like "it covers any emergency repairs" I was then contacted by a "development manager" who gave me more generic statements (probably used for all developments) that the float and quarterly factor fees (approx £30 per quarter) covered the common areas and public liability insurance etc.
The thing is... theres one very small narrow bit of grass in the middle of the houses... that's it. Its honestly about 7ft by 4ft. There's no play parks or anything else. My friend lives in a big development with a play park and sculpted garden and pays much less!
I asked for a break down of costs and the monthly maintenance of this grass is £120 per MONTH! I asked if the prices could be reviewed as it seemed excessive and I'm waiting on the manager getting back to me. In the meantime I've received a reminder to pay £74.20 outstanding for the factor fees! Am I being unreasonable waiting until I get all the information before I pay?
I feel as though I'm not getting a clear answers specific to my development!

Those fees do seem excessive, but did you not know about the fees before you moved in? Are you renting, or do you own the property?

Thingsthatgo
I've bought it. I only found out when my lawyer mentioned it but that was when I was signing the papers and it seemed a silly thing to not buy it for. I also assumed it would be fairly low given it's not a big development with no shared private roads or obvious shared spaces.

I haven’t read your deeds so this is based on the assumption that they outline your obligation as an owner in the development to contribute to it’s uptake.

If this is the case you are obligated to pay the fees.

If you don’t assuming you have a mortgage they will go over your head to your mortgage company who will pay. Then pass the cost on to you with lots of additional charges.

I’m one if the owner-directors of our mgt company and we pursue debt via mortgage companies after fulfilling the legal minimum in debt recovery.

If you weren’t aware of all the costs pre purchase you need to go back to your solicitor and ask why they weren’t outlined to you.

If you think you aren’t getting value for money speak to your fellow owners and start holding the factor to account.

My fellow directors and I do this and got £1000 in money back for various episodes of crap service last year from the lift /handyman company which we used to pay for new landscaping.

Our agent wouldn’t have bothered to pursue the contractors /don’t always check that work invoices for us actually done which really annoys me.

Before I got involved we paid four times to have the same lightbulb changed as on visits 1,2& 3 it was on the work list but not repaired! It was this incident that made me step up.

It takes up an hour a week and certain of my neighbors think I nag too much but most are grateful as the service charge costs have stopped spiraling and there is an air of care about the place.

Thank you for the advice opinionatedfreak. The problem is I've not let any of my neighbours due to COVID-19 so I haven't spoken to anyone about the fees etc. I dont want my mortgage provider getting involved so may have to grudgingly pay and then fight to get the fees down as they do seem unreasonable. I've no faith in the factors company as it is all very generic information they have given, nothing development specific!

*not met