Can I just say I HATE my freeholders' agents.

[flootshoot]

I HATE HATE HATE them.

Fucking useless bastard wankers.

I run our head lease and I am so fed up of them moving the goalposts/lying to me/ignoring my emails/telling me one thing then doing another/arranging 'casual' meetings and turning up mob-handed with a solicitor.

The latest thing? Major works to our property. We said we'd do our share, they then served us with a notice ordering us to do them (um - hello? we never said we wouldn't...). They then say they're taking over as it involves work that falls under the freeholder's remit. I readly agree as it's far easier to let them get on with it. They send us a tender document with quotes. I email them four fucking times to ask questions about it. Today I get an email back (the first time they've bothered to respond in a month) saying I should be organising the works and why am I not on it yet? Including those relating the shops downstairs . And they've inferred if the works aren't up to scratch the freeholder won't pay his share. So I'm supposed to instruct builders THEY've chosen, organise everything, then foot the entire bill if the builders cock up.

WTF? Why the hell should I be organising works that don't even fall under our lease? And why should I be organising anything when they said they would do it?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhh.

idont have the foggest on what your talking about but for you, it seems unfair

YANBU if the obligation is on him to do the works! have you closely looked at what the lease says? Does it provide that you have to reimburse the freeholder for the cost of any (i'm assuming) structural works?
If the lease doesn't explicitly say that you are responsible for paying for costs that the freeholder incurs in carrying out the works then don't, it's as simple as that. If the burden is on the freeholder, he has to sort it (and pay for it). If it is his obligation and he hasn't done it, he is effectively breaching a term of the lease and you could take action against him!

blondewithbump - we are obliged to do some works (decor), he is obliged to do others (eg. the more structural stuff). The shop downstairs is responsible for its own stuff. According to the latest email I am supposed to be organising the whole lot???? Either they are being ridiculous or the email is so badly worded it is laughable.

I am tempted to complain the the RCIS as I'm fed up with these agents being so underhanded and lying by omission. Or perhaps go and put some dog poo through their letterbox.

it might be worth seeing a solicitor who could fire off a quick letter to f/holders solicitor reminding the feeholder of his obligations and that you will only be organising/paying for works to the decor.
Agents are a pain in the bum, so if the f/holder has a sol I would get a sol to deal with them directly. It sounds like they are trying it on and you need to take control so you don't get shafted.
Alternatively the dog poo method might be a bit cheaper

I actually work in a legal office (well, for the next three weeks anyway), and I know our lease inside out. Don't worry, I have an arsey letter up my sleeve.....

Need to rant here first so I am calm and collected on paper to them. bumheads.

Yeah - just check your lease - I've just bought the headlease on my flat so now I have to ansewr to the really bloody awful landlords.
I'd love to do rtm - and tell the ma's to piss off - we are having major works this summer and it will cripple us.