I Need Advice!!

[pastafreak]

I've recieved a notice from my building management company regarding the awarding of a contract for repair work to be carried out. I only glanced at it when I received it several days ago. Closer inspection...and there is a bill for my share, to be paid by December 16. I have less than the required amount in savings, and paying this would leave me broke. I work only part time in a poorly paid job, and at 72 I'm past being ready to retire. What are my options, if any?

[pastafreak]

Zacs...its 3 blocks of flats. 16 each in 2 buildings, 8 in the smaller one. A total of 40 flats...some landlords own several.
I need to speak to my next door neighbour tomorrow and see what his take is on it.

[AuntPollyGrey]

//It's to replace the roof on 3 blocks of maisonettes...2 blocks have 16 flats, the third has 8.
The amount involved is £167,00+(eeeek!!) //

Utterly ridiculous price! To give you some idea, to repair and replace original tiles on the roof of a detached 4 bedroom home would be around 12k Max. A complete new roof with tiles no more than 25 k The price should be calculated on the square meterage of the roof not how many flats are underneath the roof.

You need to address this and try and get tenants to hold a meeting. someone is rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of shafting a few owners/tenants.

Find out what work they are doing and insist on seeing the Quotation.

[The Builder]

First, Pasta ... don't panic.

Here is some reading for you, if you can stand it...

https://www.lease-advice.org/advice-guide/section-20-consultation-private-landlords-resident-management-companies-agents/

You should have been informed at several stages. Before tenders were invited; during award of tenders; consultations to award tenders etc etc

Unless you've not been reading your mail, you should have received several communications.
It is beyond common sense to have something like this suddenly dumped on you.
Talk to your neighbours. They will be in the same boat.

Also, does your lease state that payment should be up front (before works begin)? This is extremely short notice.

It may well be that the Management Co. can authorise this work, but somehow, someone has gone about it the wrong way.

Do take legal advice. Invite contributions from other leaseholders, to cover cost of legal advice. The same advice applies to you all.

[Hymie]

By my calculation that it nearly £7 million (£167k x 40).

[Maydup]

I read it as £167k/40 , rather than times, Hymie.

[JimF]

"By my calculation that it nearly £7 million (£167k x 40)"

It is indeed, in exactly the same way as £167,000 divided by 40 is £4,175.

[Maydup]

I think its difficult to compare with a domestic roof. The flats will be taller than your average roof, so more scaffolding and up for longer. The materials will be different and we have no idea of the size or complexity of the roof.

[bednobs]

agreed it might be ingle storey so the size of 40x ordinary rooves

[pastafreak]

Quickly, to The Builder...yes there has been communication over a period of almost 18 months. The last was referring to, if I'm not mistaken, 3 possible contractors to be considered. This was a good few months ago.
I just didn't expect the amount to be so much. And yes...its short notice just before Christmas.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Sorry, I was assuming it was a block of flats not maisonettes. In that case £4k each is not overly expensive. We've (OH) just re roofed a small terrace house, remove tiles re-felt replace original tiles with repairs as necessary for around that price including the scaffolding.