MTVH leaseholders should now have received a statement of actual expenditure for services charges for the financial year ending 2022. We think they have made mistakes. Please request receipts and tell us you’ve done it.
An example statement is here so you know roughly what to look for.
When comparing services charge statements people living in very similar properties seems to be paying very different amounts. For example
- Charges for internal cleaning for very similar flats range from £240 a year to £371 a year
- One resident was charged £93 for pest control (removing a rat infestation by the stairwell). But a leaseholder in the same block sharing the same stairwell was only charged £10
- One resident was charged £759 for “Structural Repairs”. This might be legitimate, but we need receipts to make sure.
When we had this problem last year we demanded to see receipts to corroborate the service charges (as is our right). MTVH then admitted they couldn’t corroborate the service charges and agreed to fix the issue. We hope to do the same here.
Please request receipts please use this online tool . Please tell us when you’ve done it.
Alternatively, please send the following email to lsc@mtvh.co.uk and please copy in StMartinsResidentsLambeth@gmail.com (this is based on the template letter from the Leasehold Advisory Service)
1. I am the leaseholder of <your address>
2. I make this request of the landlord in accordance with Section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
3. The landlord has provided a summary of the relevant costs incurred for the period ending 31st March 2022.
4. As the landlord of the property you are required to comply with paragraphs 5 and 6 below.
5. You are required to provide me with reasonable facilities free of charge for inspecting the accounts, receipts and other documents supporting the summary (including details of service charge apportionment calculations), and for taking copies or extracts from them.
6. You are required to make such facilities available for a period of two months beginning not later than one month after this request is made.
Some people have asked why their share of estate expenditure is what it is. I think is is covered under “other documents supporting the summary”
Together we can ensure transparent service charges
St Martins TRA 