Am I liable for flat service charge bill before I completed / became owner

[FTBldn]

I bought a leasehold flat recently. I set up an online account with the leasehold company just to track payments more easily.

Once I registered I noticed it said my account was in arrears and the statement was dated from 1 April 2025. I’m just confused why I’d be liable if I had completed on the flat end of May 2025.

I had also previously paid my solicitor ‘apportionments’ and my solicitor had said “you will pay no service charges/ground rent until the next collection”

(Unable to contact leasehold company atm as they’re closed weekends so just trying to get more info before I contact them)

I dont know the answer but I can’t believe that your solicitor wouldn’t protect you from that.

Don’t panic. We had loads of problems with our service charge, for example we were charged for months after we sold and moved out. Speak to the freeholder on the phone on Monday.

I believe you can be charged for it. When I sold my flat the buyer insisted on a cash amount to be retained by the solicitor, which they could be reimbursed from if any charges arose relating to my period of ownership. After 12 months no such claims arose and the money was returned to me.

Best to speak to your solicitor and the management company to clarify the position.

It depends on a lot of things in particular how your sale was areanged.

However the fact rhat it says 1st April could simply mean your flats service charge year starts in April.

Have a look at the bill and request the year service charge budget and find put what your years apportionment would be. That should tell you if it's one or the other.

Service charges are set in advance. Therefore they are projections of what the service charge is expected to be. When the full costs have been received at the end of their full year accounting period, they can then apportion any outstanding costs over and above what was projected, to each flat.