I apologise for the non-parenting related question but is there anyone out there who is au fait with leasehold laws?
My partner and I own the leasehold to a flat and pay a service charge to managing agents. After the horrendous rains of late last year we discovered a patch of penetrating damp in our bathroom. We called the managing agents who sent a surveyor round who diagnosed the problem. I left the problem with him to sort out, i.e. get quotes etc from contractors.
When I phoned the managing agents recently about it I was told the freeholder (who also owns the other flat in the building) had decided to get her own contractor in to do the work. My question is: is she allowed to do this if we are responsible for half the cost of the works? I am doubly concerned since the contractor she uses is a cowboy of the highest order and had done some extremely shoddy work in the flat prior to us moving in. According to the managing agents their hands are tied if she wants to go down this route. This contractor is not on their approved list. Is the freeholder only allowed to use her own contractor if she is paying the whole cost herself?
I really hope someone can answer my questions as I am at my wits end trying to find out what our position is, especially as we have just placed our flat on the market. It's so frustrating not to be able to sort the problem out ourselves - I HATE THE LEASEHOLD SYSTEM!!
Debster