Service charges

[jessstan2]

Is there any way online I can find out what the annual service charge on a flat is without asking the estate agent? I am only at the stage of 'thinking about' a particular flat and I know if I ask it will start conversations, plus I would have to give my 'phone number. I don't think it is unreasonable to want to know in advance and cannot understand why the information is not on Rightmove.

Thank you.

The Estate Agent is unlikely to know unless he speaks to the vendor. If you are thinking of viewing the property, ask the vendor directly or ask the EA to find out. If you don't want to do that, it will be difficult to get this information.

One idea might be to google the block that this property is in and see if anything comes up, such as the annual AGM and Minutes where service charges could be mentioned, or any resident/facebook groups.

I do think that this type of information should be available at the outset so that potential purchasers can make an offer based on more than room sizes, but I suspect it will be a few more years before the government make major changes in conveyancing in this country.

Yes, it should be standard information, but even if you can find out fairly easily, bear in mind that charges can go up, maybe by quite a bit.

The info U.K. estate agents provide is often hopeless - I’ve known them completely clueless about real basics like the length of a lease. In the US they’re much more professional, but then they do charge a lot more - I gather that 5-6% is not unusual.

Thanks for your responses.

it should be standard information

It's not necessarily standard at all if it's an existing property rather than a new build. It can vary for each individual property depending on the lease and method(s) of apportionment being used as well as vary from year to year. Reserve fund calculations can also vary.

If you get to offer stage, the vendor will provide all the detailed service charge information as part of a management pack usually requested by your solicitor. It can be quite expensive to prepare all this (some managing agents charge the vendor upwards of £500+ for the preparation of this management pack) so hardly surprising the vendor isn't going to cover this cost until they know you're a serious buyer.

At least the vendor could supply (say) the last couple of years’ charges, and anything they may know about future ones, while adding that these will not necessarily be indicative of future ones.
It would at least be some sort of guide for anyone who might be interested at a preliminary stage.

They would not need to pay anyone to provide this information.

If it's not on the advert I'd assume it's ££. Can you find a RM listing for one which sold in same block in last 5 years

At least the vendor could supply (say) the last couple of years’ charges

And they most likely will. But the OP isn't willing to interact with the estate agent, let alone the vendor.

Yes I have seen other flats in the small block listed but they don't give information on the service charges either :-).

Apparently the average for London is £1,800 - £2,000 pa. The flat which has captured my interest is in a London borough, on the outskirts of London.

My son used to live next door in the same block a few years ago but even he doesn't know; he rented and presumably it was incorporated into the rent.

I'm just curious, am not at the stage of actually putting in an offer; there are other things to consider before I get that far but I have to say, I think the place would really suit me. It has been up for sale for quite a long time and the price reduced earlier this year.

Just ask the Estate Agent. If you’ve been to see it presumably the agent has your number or email already.

We sold a flat last year and most people who came to view asked. I’d be surprised if other viewers haven’t asked and the Estate Agent already has the info to hand.

Ask the agent, it's completely normal. Or contact the managing agent informally - they may be able to give you an indicative cost for a 1/2/3 bed. There are often clues as well - staffing, lots of lifts and extra amenities (pool and gym particularly) are very expensive to run.

@LBOCS2

Ask the agent, it's completely normal. Or contact the managing agent informally - they may be able to give you an indicative cost for a 1/2/3 bed. There are often clues as well - staffing, lots of lifts and extra amenities (pool and gym particularly) are very expensive to run.

Oh it's nothing like that, just a two bedroomed, ground floor flat with a car park, in Chislehurst. I might ask the estate agents actually, by email.

I insisted that those details were on the listing when we sold. Generally, the less communal amenities, the cheaper the service charge. So lifts, gardens, concierge etc all cost more.

I think the number of years left on the lease should be on the listing as well.

Just ask the estate agent! You could always set up a new email address and give that to them to get the reply, if you are so concerned about them having your phone number. The other option is to give them your number, but block if you aren't interested!

I have emailed the estate agent and asked them if they can tell me the service charge.