Here are three recent case studies where Your Right to Manage was able to help leaseholders achieve a better deal.

1 A block of five flats in West London

The property, a Victorian mansion block, had been mismanaged and neglected by the landlord’s managing agents. The managing agents subsequently went into receivership and were absorbed into a large group who did not inspect our client’s property. They also had a block insurance policy agreement across their estates.

We assisted two of the leaseholders to identify the absentee leaseholders in the block and gain a majority interest to form a Right to Manage company. We subsequently undertook a long overdue common parts refurbishment.

We were retained to handle the on-going management and, in the first year, reduced the service charge whilst improving the services provided. This was achieved largely because we negotiated a much lower insurance premium. This was reduced from £3,000 to £850 per annum for the same level of cover.

2 A block of 25 Flats in Holborn, London having three commercial properties beneath

During the creation of the Right to Manage company the Freeholder tried to claim that the commercial area was greater than 25%. This was subsequently refuted. After the Right to Manage company was formed and the papers were released by the landlord, it was apparent that widespread overcharging for most service contracts and maintenance had taken place. We were able to achieve significant savings to maintenance costs, remove the inefficient and probably fraudulent cleaning company, and find substantial savings on the insurance premium.

3 A block of 10 flats in North London

The property, a 1960s built block, had a flat roof that was in urgent need of replacement. The Freeholder, a Trust, insisted on using an expensive firm to repair the roof. Every year various reports were written and the proposed costs escalated for what was a relatively simple job. Still the water kept seeping through. Eventually three active leaseholders asked us to help them gain control from the Freeholder. A RTM company was formed and, with our assistance, the leaseholders were able to get a 20 year warranted roof replacement undertaken for just 70% of the price the Freeholder’s contractors had quoted.