S20 Works - HELP!

[mamabird201313]

Just looking for a bit of advice to start with, but fully aware I will need legal advice and I'm prepared to go ahead with this.

I bought a leasehold flat in and moved in 28/05/2021. I was told before I completed that there would be major works going ahead later in the year and would need to pay towards these. My solicitor contacted the freeholder and they emailed her saying at that the cost would be £8000 split between 8 leasehold tenants. I agreed I could pay towards this and went ahead with the purchase.

4 weeks after moving in I received a letter from the freeholders solicitor saying that the works were estimated at £200k and my contribution would be £10,400.

Now obviously this is massively more than I was told, so I have spent the last nearly 2 years arguing that I was given false information and I never would have purchased the flat if I had been told this.

I'm just wondering where I stand really. The Notice of Intention to Carry out Works was issued in February (3 months before I moved in) and a further letter was issued 3 days before I completed so I never saw any of these, I was only sent the Statement of Estimates a few months after I completed and moved in.

I'm just at a loss really as I'm a single parent trying hard to make ends meet and I'm being send constant demands for over £10k.

Hmm..a bit of a grey area..
Generally speaking an estimate is different to an actual quote but rule of thumb is that it shouldn't be more than 20% out.
As an example (though obviously not exactly the same scenario) a friend was asked to forgo the Section 20 process on some works as builders were already on site for other stuff. Friend asked the rough cost before agreeing. Was told estimate £500 per leaseholder. Final bill was £1500 per leaseholder! Friend (who is solicitor) argued the above and £600 was eventually agreed on basis of +20%.
Join the National Leasehold Campaign Facebook group and ask advice on there as really helpful group..

Thank you so, so much. I've just requested to join the group. The freeholders have agreed to come out and chat to me and the other residents on Friday so I'll mention this 20% and see if we can come to an agreement.