can they do this

[pud1]

My partner and I live in an apartment block of 12 flats. They are all private properties and have a management company that see to the day to day upkeep of the communal areas. This company also hold meetings with residents to discuss any problems. Most people do not attend these meetings as they are very tedious.
We have just received minutes of the last meeting and were shocked to read that a complaint has been made about OUR anti social behaviour. They have named my partner in this document and stated that he causes a nuisance to other people living in the flats by having loud parties and congregating outside with friends until the early hours. This is not at all correct. We do not have parties or cause a nuisance. The only person from our block that attended the meeting is a man that lived next door and complained about everything. He moved out about 8 months ago and has just sold the property which is completing this week.
My question after this long rant is is there any way I can take legal action against this company for defamation of character or something along these lines. I do not see how they should be able to publish a document that does not aledge but states that we are behaving n a way that is just not true

this sounds pretty normal from these sorts of management company situations

I suggest you just make sure you attend every meeting - in my experience that is the only way of keeping things amicable

I would speak to whomever leads the meeting and ask that he maybe puts things right at the next one. Tbh i am not sure there is anything you can do but go to the meetings yourself then you can put your point of view across too.

have you ever received a written complaint?

have not recieved any compaints. this is the first i have heard of it

ok, firstly i would get on to the management company (write to them) and ask them to supply you with written evidence of your 'anti social behaviour'. if there have been complaints they obviously cant tell you who complained but they have to have given you the opportunity to correct and respond to any allegations made against you.

they cannot take the word of a tennant as fact iyswim.

if they cannot do this then i suggest you ask for an apology to be written in the next issue. have you asked any of your neighbours what they think? any support from them would help you.

thank you all,

i have just spoken to a solicitor who said that they can write to them demanding that they send out a writen withdrawral due to lack of evidence as i have already called them and asked for a diary of events and they told me that they are not able to provide one. do you think it is worth paying a solicitor £25 for a letter or wirting one myself considering it will not be as well worded

and that i am the worlds worst typist

i think a solicitors letter is best (it shows you mean business)

management company has a bloody cheek imo.

they have just taken over from another company asn i think they are trying to make athere mark.

they also named people who are behind with the service charge. it stated the full name, address and amoutn owed which i think i bloody disgusting discussing peoples financial arrangements. luckly i was not one of them

I would not go in with threats and letters from solicitors

If this chap made a complaint then the chair is obliged to minute it

What action did they suggest taking?

Re. naming and shaming people who are behind with service charges - that is quite normal and quite reasonable. People SHOULDN'T be behind with service charges. It is a nightmare for whoever is in charge of the finances.

But what about Data Protection laws?! Understand the principle, wonder if they're on dodgy ground though, divulging personal details...

Good luck with your letter. I hope you get a retraction minuted at the next meeting.

The chair may be obliged to minute that X alleged that Y had done Z. He/she is not obliged to minute as a fact that Y has done Z.

(why am I posting on this thread when it's two months old?)