Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It
cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell
the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up
for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
They've now sold it for £1, not sure to whom, whether a speculator or
the management company. At least that stops the monthly drain on the
estate of the management fees.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on all sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
*I'm over 70 and considered making an offer (£2??) to use as a holiday
home, but the £9k management fees plus council tax, would make it rather expensive. I don't think the rules would allow me to AirBNB it, even
over 70's.
It cost £190k.So you buy somewhere, and the service charges are 3/4 the cost of a
£9k/yr service charges
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And prospective
residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
On Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:23:42 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
So it's a rental, effectively.
Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:23:42 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which >> > the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
So it's a rental, effectively.
At least with rentals you can serve notice and leave. Can you do that with
a retirement flat, or are you lumbered paying the service charges even if
you write down the flat to zero? Is there a way to hand it back to the freeholder?
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west.
It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to
sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even
putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges,
which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services
being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening).
And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
 A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with a high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for auction
with a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her deceased >> aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known national >> provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It cost £190k. >> She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell the >> flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up for
auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which the >> estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being delivered
(apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And prospective
residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with a
high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for auction with
a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It
cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell
the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up
for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
They've now sold it for £1, not sure to whom, whether a speculator or
the management company. At least that stops the monthly drain on the
estate of the management fees.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on all sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
*I'm over 70 and considered making an offer (£2??) to use as a holiday
home, but the £9k management fees plus council tax, would make it rather expensive. I don't think the rules would allow me to AirBNB it, even
over 70's.
On Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:23:42 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
So it's a rental, effectively.
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It
cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell
the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up
for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
They've now sold it for £1, not sure to whom, whether a speculator or
the management company. At least that stops the monthly drain on the
estate of the management fees.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on all sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
*I'm over 70 and considered making an offer (£2??) to use as a holiday
home, but the £9k management fees plus council tax, would make it rather expensive. I don't think the rules would allow me to AirBNB it, even
over 70's.
On 2025-07-13 21:04, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west.
It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to
sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even
putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges,
which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services
being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening).
And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
  A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with
a high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for
auction with a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
How does assisted-living compare with a care home? A new care home
they're building here has prices starting from £1700/week (gone up quite
a bit from my father in 2014 who was paying about £4000/month). Both he
and my father-in-law spent about 18 months in such, so would be about £130,000 spent but no hassle at all post death.
How much care and assistance do you get for £9000/y? How long do people typically stay in them?
Cheers,
nib
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west.
It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to
sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even
putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any
buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges,
which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services
being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening).
And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
They've now sold it for £1, not sure to whom, whether a speculator or
the management company. At least that stops the monthly drain on the
estate of the management fees.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on
all sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
*I'm over 70 and considered making an offer (£2??) to use as a
holiday home, but the £9k management fees plus council tax, would
make it rather expensive. I don't think the rules would allow me to
AirBNB it, even over 70's.
This seems to be the high end of the market ruthlessly exploited at the low end by "holiday lodge" companies. People would be better advised to avoid specialist accomodation for the elderly and get a small, but accessible, flat with a reasonable service charge and contract with a care agency for any extra
services they may need in the future. They may well be getting almost nothing of value for a nine thousand pound service charge. Especiallyl, of course, if they are no longer there.
On 2025-07-13 21:04, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west.
It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to
sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even
putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges,
which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services
being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening).
And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
  A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with
a high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for
auction with a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
How does assisted-living compare with a care home? A new care home
they're building here has prices starting from £1700/week (gone up quite
a bit from my father in 2014 who was paying about £4000/month). Both he
and my father-in-law spent about 18 months in such, so would be about £130,000 spent but no hassle at all post death.
How much care and assistance do you get for £9000/y? How long do people typically stay in them?
On 13 Jul 2025 at 18:23:42 BST, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It
cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell
the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up
for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
They've now sold it for £1, not sure to whom, whether a speculator or
the management company. At least that stops the monthly drain on the
estate of the management fees.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on all
sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
*I'm over 70 and considered making an offer (£2??) to use as a holiday
home, but the £9k management fees plus council tax, would make it rather
expensive. I don't think the rules would allow me to AirBNB it, even
over 70's.
A very similar experience here in Sheffield. A friend's mum bought a major brand retirement home, 2 bed flat in a good area. Serviced communal areas and a 24 hour warden, about 40 flats in the complex. £200,000 about 10 years ago.
Service charges have crept up - about £8k/pa. Sold a few months ago for £30,000.
On 13 Jul 2025 at 21:04:59 BST, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her deceased >>> aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known national >>> provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It cost £190k.
She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell the >>> flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up for >>> auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which the
estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being delivered
(apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And prospective
residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with a
high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for auction with >> a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
Service charges up to £10,000. Plus lease charges. As mentioned up-thread, these home sales are now effectively rentals, with very little capital value. And I suppose if considered as such, a not outrageous option. They certainly look very presentable.
Might this sort of enerprise be open to a resident takeover, Right to Manage style?
https://www.lease-advice.org/advice-guide/right-manage/
On 13/07/2025 21:19, nib wrote:...
On 2025-07-13 21:04, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known
national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-
west. It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to
sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even
putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers. >>>>
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges,
which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services
being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening).
And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
  A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats
with a high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for
auction with a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000 >>>
How does assisted-living compare with a care home? A new care home
they're building here has prices starting from £1700/week (gone up
quite a bit from my father in 2014 who was paying about £4000/month).
Both he and my father-in-law spent about 18 months in such, so would
be about £130,000 spent but no hassle at all post death.
There can be a notice period of a month or two. Obviously, unless clairvoyant, you can't give notice, so there's a month or two's fees to
pay after death.
On 13/07/2025 19:01, Roger Hayter wrote:
This seems to be the high end of the market ruthlessly exploited at
the low end by "holiday lodge" companies. People would be better
advised to avoid specialist accomodation for the elderly and get a
small, but accessible, flat with a reasonable service charge and
contract with a care agency for any extra services they may need in
the future. They may well be getting almost nothing of value for a
nine thousand pound service charge. Especiallyl, of course, if they
are no longer there.
The parents in law of my daughter were very happy in the assisted
living flat they bought. Service charges were very heavy, but they
liked the facilities, and they made friends with the other residents.
It worked very well for them.
Financially, of course, it was a bit of a disaster. The monthly charges
were high (but nothing like a nursing home). But, as Roland says, the >children have been stuck with an unsaleable flat, instead of the
perfectly saleable house they lived in previously.
I have heard that it's sometimes possible to rent ones of these flats,
which would definitely be my preferred route.
Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:23:42 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
So it's a rental, effectively.
At least with rentals you can serve notice and leave. Can you do that with
a retirement flat, or are you lumbered paying the service charges even if
you write down the flat to zero? Is there a way to hand it back to the >freeholder?
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her
deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known >>national provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west.
It cost £190k. She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to
sell the flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even
putting it up for auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges,
which the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services
being delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening).
And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with a
high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for auction
with a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
How does assisted-living compare with a care home? A new care home
they're building here has prices starting from £1700/week (gone up
quite a bit from my father in 2014 who was paying about £4000/month).
Both he and my father-in-law spent about 18 months in such, so would be
about £130,000 spent but no hassle at all post death.
How much care and assistance do you get for £9000/y? How long do people >typically stay in them?
A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with a >>> high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for auction with >>> a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
Service charges up to £10,000. Plus lease charges. As mentioned >>up-thread, these home sales are now effectively rentals, with very
little capital value. And I suppose if considered as such, a not >>outrageous option. They certainly look very presentable.
Might this sort of enerprise be open to a resident takeover, Right
to Manage style?
Would that help? The service charge levels are high primarily because a
lot of services are being provided.
There'll be at least one manager on site 24 hours.
There are (usually) extensive common parts owned by the freeholder and >effectively rented to the residents.
The one I looked round had a large laundry room, free for residents,
and that needs paying for.
The building was clean, and kept in very good order.
On Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:23:42 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which
the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
So it's a rental, effectively.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on
all sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
Are you sure it's not 2% for each year of ownership? So, it could be
far more than 2p. Maybe, as much as 30 or 40p.
In message <1052t76$3d69f$4@dont-email.me>, at 13:29:26 on Mon, 14 Jul
2025, GB <NOTsomeone@microsoft.invalid> remarked:
 The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on
all sales, and I seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
Are you sure it's not 2% for each year of ownership? So, it could be
far more than 2p. Maybe, as much as 30 or 40p.
It's simply a tax on the sale, which they claim is to cover their legal
costs regarding the transfer of lease, although *if* one was sold for
£100k, their legal costs wouldn't be anywhere near £2k.
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her deceased aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known national provider, in
a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It cost £190k. She was very happy
living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell the flat ever
since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up for auction for £10k
reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which the estate has
had to pay all this time despite no services being delivered (apart perhaps from a
trivial amount of gardening). And prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
They've now sold it for £1, not sure to whom, whether a speculator or the management
company. At least that stops the monthly drain on the estate of the management fees.
The management company also stipulates a 2% percentage commission on all sales, and I
seriously hope they get sent a cheque for 2p.
*I'm over 70 and considered making an offer (£2??) to use as a holiday home, but the
£9k management fees plus council tax, would make it rather expensive. I don't think the
rules would allow me to AirBNB it, even over 70's.
On 14/07/2025 08:43, RJH wrote:
On 13 Jul 2025 at 21:04:59 BST, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 13/07/2025 18:23, Roland Perry wrote:
A friend of a friend is handling the probate (and estate) for her deceased >>>> aunt.
In 2018 the aunt bought an assisted living flat from a well known national >>>> provider, in a prime location in a resort on the north-west. It cost £190k.
She was very happy living there.
The aunt passed away in 2021/2 and the executor has been trying to sell the
flat ever since. Reducing the price step by step, even putting it up for >>>> auction for £10k reserve, but didn't get any buyers.
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which the
estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being delivered >>>> (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And prospective
residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
A national provider does seem to admit that some of their flats with a >>> high service charge are almost worthless. (There's one up for auction with >>> a £5k reserve).
https://www.mccarthyandstoneresales.co.uk/search-results/?maxprice=50000
Service charges up to £10,000. Plus lease charges. As mentioned up-thread, >> these home sales are now effectively rentals, with very little capital value.
And I suppose if considered as such, a not outrageous option. They certainly >> look very presentable.
Might this sort of enerprise be open to a resident takeover, Right to Manage >> style?
Would that help? The service charge levels are high primarily because a
lot of services are being provided.
There'll be at least one manager on site 24 hours.
There are (usually) extensive common parts owned by the freeholder and effectively rented to the residents.
The one I looked round had a large laundry room, free for residents, and
that needs paying for.
The building was clean, and kept in very good order.
RTM is only worthwhile if the resident leaseholders can run it far more efficiently.
If flats elsewhere with presumably similar arrangements can sell atNorth/South divide?
£200K, why is your friend's one so hard to get rid of at a greatly
reduced price?
Martin Harran wrote:
If flats elsewhere with presumably similar arrangements can sell atNorth/South divide?
£200K, why is your friend's one so hard to get rid of at a greatly
reduced price?
There is that. And without wishing to stereotype unduly, they might not want to be bothered with the hassle. It's more likely to be the heirs who have a financial interest. And getting them organised . . . well, herding cats springs to mind.
On 15/07/2025 15:33, Andy Burns wrote:
Martin Harran wrote:
If flats elsewhere with presumably similar arrangements can sell atNorth/South divide?
£200K, why is your friend's one so hard to get rid of at a greatly
reduced price?
In London, the retirement flats are sold new for much more. So, the
owners still take a pasting, but there's still some value left?
and they don't do the calculus. Or they do, but they don't care what
happens to their heirs.
A very nice little earner for the company involved.
Theo
On Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:48:12 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>
wrote:
In message <ioE*wxqhA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, at 21:30:16 on Sun,
13 Jul 2025, Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> remarked:
Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:23:42 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Apparently the main sticking point is the £9k/yr service charges, which >>>> > the estate has had to pay all this time despite no services being
delivered (apart perhaps from a trivial amount of gardening). And
prospective residents having to be 70+ yrs old*.
So it's a rental, effectively.
At least with rentals you can serve notice and leave. Can you do that with >>>a retirement flat, or are you lumbered paying the service charges even if >>>you write down the flat to zero? Is there a way to hand it back to the >>>freeholder?
The freeholder will list it "For Sale", acting a bit like an estate
agent. It's not clear if they do that with much enthusiasm as their
primary aim to build more flats elsewhere to sell at ~200k each.
If flats elsewhere with presumably similar arrangements can sell at
£200K, why is your friend's one so hard to get rid of at a greatly
reduced price?
Because it's not "new and shiny" and it doesn't have well trained
salesmen convincing them it's the best thing since sliced bread. Just
your run of the mill couldn't give a damn estate agents (who having seen
this scenario over and over again have convinced themselves such flats
will never sell, so are wasting their time).
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
Because it's not "new and shiny" and it doesn't have well trained
salesmen convincing them it's the best thing since sliced bread. Just
your run of the mill couldn't give a damn estate agents (who having seen
this scenario over and over again have convinced themselves such flats
will never sell, so are wasting their time).
And because such new flats are marketed via the freeholder not an estate >agent they don't appear on Rightmove,
which is the first place many people looking to move might go to see
what's available in a given area. But the new builds do.
The second hand ones are instead listed in the freeholder's disused
lavatory where you can find them if you know to look for them.
Another little wheeze. A certain large housebuilder of these things says
'we don't make a penny from service charges'. But it doesn't prevent them >selling on the freehold to somebody who does. Apparently this was their >business model before 2010, so the older properties are more significantly >affected.
If the development has had a vacancy for the live-in manager for several years, then of course they are making money, because they don't reduce
the service charge to compensate. Similarly, when a flat becomes vacant,
they still want 100% of the service charge, even though the vast
majority of what that service charge funds*, is un-used.
*Believe it or not, one of the more visible services is 'changing your lightbulbs', which I think residents are prohibited from doing
themselves, although most probably couldn't anyway. Now that they are
likely to be low-energy bulbs, they only need changing very
occasionally, anyway.
On 17/07/2025 10:53, Roland Perry wrote:
If the development has had a vacancy for the live-in manager for
several years, then of course they are making money, because they
don't reduce the service charge to compensate. Similarly, when a flat >>becomes vacant, they still want 100% of the service charge, even
though the vast majority of what that service charge funds*, is un-used.
Surely, the service charges are based on what is actually spent?
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