Please Help Me.....

[postage]

I have owned a flat for the last 10 years, and the free holder owns the cello below, for the last 10 years he has been robbing me off money by saying my flat is leaking in to the cellar I have spent almost £10K since then getting every single leak repaired.
Yesterday I received a letter to pay £1240 my share of the house to have mould treatment done from outside plus £600 for the maintence charges ?
When I asked him I need to see the quotation and what company will be doing the mould control from outstide he sent me a harassing email to say you pay up or you will have cellor leak issue again.

Can you help me am so troubled with this

[factor-fiction]

Sounds as if he's on the fiddle (or is the cello?).
I would not pay a penny until i get a quotation and then I'd get an independent report/quotation.
Is it possible to move?
I'd also get advise from CAB or a solicitor as you could find you are asked to pay out even more as time goes on

[postage]

its not possible to move at all I am stuck there and he keeps gettingmoney off of almost 2k a year for silly little repairs. when I refuse he adds £25 on the bill, he even got in toucth with my morgage lender and said i was not keeping my flat in good condition.

[factor-fiction]

It may be cheaper to move though as you will avoid these £2000 a year extra charges.

[postage]

When I had damp proof done in my flat I got 3 quotes done and approved by him and went along with the best one. Cost me 4500 then year after year he had said the water had been leaking in to he’s cellor

No one lives there its empty and dark and dingy.
I cannot get morgage to sell it I do not have the deposit or the credit rate.

Is it wrong for me ask for a quote and a breakdown of the invoice. Without him threatening me with the cellor??

[woofgang]

I think that you need some proper legal advice on this.

[factor-fiction]

Definitely. Even if it costs you a £100 or so for a bit of legal advice I think it'll be worth it in the long run

[postage]

is there any one you can suggest

[factor-fiction]

Try CAB first- they may advise on a solicitor or may offer to help you.

[woofgang]

How could we do that, we don't know where you live.....

[Brinjal]

Hmm have you actually seen where the leak is coming from. Cellars are notoriously difficult to waterproof. He could be charging you for seepage from elsewhere. You definitely need professional advice .

[themas]

CAB for a start. Also, if necessary www.lease-advice.org who can give you some advice on the phone. There are regulations the freeholder has to follow in relation to service charge issues & it may be he isn't following them. Are there any other leaseholders in the building? If so can you get them to join you in making a protest & requiring that the regulations are followed?

I don't understand what you say about leaks to the cellar. How could there be so many of them from your flat that it cost you £10K to stop them? I think it's far more likely that the damp in the cellar is seepage through the floor or walls. Nor do I understand what mould treatment can be done from outside the building, unless it is external solid wall insulation - which is a massive & very expensive job in most cases.

[Addy123]

As others said I would seek legal advice (CAB etc), but I would also keep a copy of the e-mail where he makes the threat regarding pay up etc, as that could prove very valuable to you and backfire badly in him.