What to do about flat owner's habitual late payments?

[maggiethecat]

I'm one of 3 flat owners of a conversion of which we all own the freehold. We opted not to use a managing agent as we thought we could take care of the issues ourselves. This has worked out well except that one non resident owner does not contribute any time or service which is fair enough since he is often out of the country. But he is always late in making his contribution payments even when given plenty of notice.

Is there anything we can do to force him to pay up on time?

Not thinking about anything drastic like taking him to court but just enough to get him to get his fingers out (of his tight pocket)

Do you have anything in the lease about charging interest on late payments?

Following up with subsequent letters for which he is charged a tenner?

Being over seas is no excuse! He is just an idiot!!

No, lease does not address issue. The thing is that if we had appointed managing agents to take care of things he probably would be charged penalties!

Also, he's a foreign correspondent and it gets my goat everytime I see him on the tele!

How about sending him a letter reminding him of his obligations and responsibilities in the freehold, and reiterate that lateness in payment is delaying necessary maintenance work from being carried out.

On the other hand, are all the monies you are all paying really necessary? Is it for flowerpots or for necesarry maintenance work?

Because, if it is for flowerpots in the communal areas, and not roofrepairs, or what nnot, it might be slightly cheeky to rope him in on paying for somethign which is not strictly necessary? Especially if he doesnt live there, and get to enjoy the benefits.

Otherwise, you might consider setting up a maintenance fund, and have everybody set aside a certain amount each month, to this particular fund, and let it go direct debit, so you KNOW the money is there.

The most basic stuff only - insurance, elec, carpet cleaning (once every 2 years) and recently we had to do external refurb (7 yers ago was the last time).

My tenant has done the gardening for free!

You should work out a budget which includes these items, and stick to a monthly figure direct debit, into and out from a "service account", this way you dont have to approach this owner ever so often.