THE FIRST PART IS OPEN. THE COMMENTS SECTION IS ONLY FOR THE LEASEHOLDERS AND REQUIRES LOGIN
WELCOME TO
"FLORENCE COURT FORUM"
FOR THE LEASEHOLDERS
YOUR HOME, YOUR INVESTMENT, YOUR COST
YOUR RIGHT TO
MANAGE
ALL OF US ARE PAYING THE EVER-INCREASING SERVICE CHARGES. ARE WE CHARGED EQUITABLY AND FAIRLY? DO WE KNOW HOW OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT? ARE WE GETTING A GOOD VALUE FOR OUR MONEY? CAN WE DO BETTER? THERE WILL BE NO ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE IF YOU DO NOT ASK THE QUESTION. YOU HAVE THE MORAL AND THE LEGAL RIGHT TO BE HEARD. USE IT.
HERE YOU CAN TALK TO THE OTHER LEASEHOLDER AND ALSO LISTEN TO THEM
MANAGING THE BUILDING
Buildings do need a lot of work. The cost of those works and the services is paid by the leaseholders. We have an RTM. We appoint the directors to handle the routine matters. It, however, is finally up to us to decide the level and standard we wish to keep and the amount of money we wish to spend. In the past, the landlord or the freeholder managed the buildings. The leaseholders just paid. They had no say in the management, and mostly did not get a fair deal.
Government brought in laws which gave the leaseholders the legal power to manage the building themselves. Many buildings saw the creation of RTM (Right to Manage) companies. Meaning, that you are managing the building.
Are YOU managing your building?
RTM
RTM is like a limited company. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association within the prevalent laws. It has members, who vote upon the decisions. All of us (leaseholders) have the right to become a member.
The Board of Directors are volunteers who oversee the day-to-day matters. By no means it is a lucrative assignment, except for the unscrupulous. The directors are not required to have any special qualifications, but they are encouraged to acquire basic skills of company management and to learn the regulations regarding compliance with the laws. The assignment is onerous for they are the custodians of other people’s money. Unfortunately, many just do not care, because the Leaseholders do not exercise control.
Remember, the Board is elected by the members and can be removed or replaced by the members.
It is ultimately answerable to the leaseholders.
IMPORTANCE OF CONTROL
Leaseholders can decide how much money (The Service Charge) we want to collect. We also have the control to make sure that our money is spent well and not wasted by inefficiency or deceit.
It is not simply a matter of a thousand odd Pounds up or down annually. Higher Service Charge can lower the price of your property by hundreds of thousands of Pounds. There are many buildings in Central London where the Service Charge has gone very high due to the lack of effective control by the leaseholders. Those flats are in the market at much lower prices. We must protect our property and be vigilant.
WHAT GOES WRONG?
Leaseholder’s goals, problems, their solutions, and interests are usually common. We will easily find unity if we communicate.
Why don’t we communicate?
Very often we make the mistake of thinking that it is none of my business. Someone else will do it.
Maybe we are busy and just do not have time.
Maybe we live abroad and own the flat as an investment or just as an additional abode for periodical visits. Distance makes the contact a bit difficult, so, we stay away.
But often there is more. The beneficiaries of our disunity make every effort to prevent our mutual contact, by using every tactic at their disposal. There are many examples where the operators have put the Service Charge extremely high for their own gain and the leaseholders just could not get united to stop it. A lot of leaseholder’s money is lost.
We can prevent it. But only if we are united.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
Simple. Talk with each other. This website aims to make that easier. Every leaseholder can and should join. The idea is to open an effective channel of communication, where the opinions and the views of all the stakeholders (yes, that is us!) are mutually understood and well crystalised in advance, on most issues and future projects.
This option is far better than a hurried General Meeting (mostly are not even called), to solve, half understood, complicated problems, very quickly.
Visiting the website, need not be a chore. Just an occasional glance can keep you fully updated. And you can be heard. Your useful opinions and comments will be there for all to see.
One lone voice can be easily overruled or ignored. Not so, for many united voices.
Remember, RTM is a collective body created by the leaseholders. It is supposed to look after the interest of ALL, equitably and fairly. Any person or entity assigned to perform any specific role or task, remains ultimately answerable and accountable to the leaseholders (You).
Please use the website. It is free. We need to help each other to reign in the costs and make this a good deal for all of us.
THE TENANTS
This website is primarily for the leaseholders. But a substantial portion of the building is occupied by the tenants. Remember, a large amount of money is regularly paid by the leaseholders (your landlord) for the comfort of their tenants (you). Is that money working? In this regard the comments of the tenants are extremely valuable. This is a developing website. It will change with views and ideas of the participants. In the interim, the tenants can also send their views by clicking on the log in. Their views can be collectively put to the service providers.
THE PROCEDURE
This website is new, and everything is open to change as per your wishes. Please do give your opinion on that too.
The first part of the website is open to all. The communication of the participants is available only after the log in. Your comments will be posted there, and there you will find what others are saying. It contains information pertaining to our RTM and the specific issues related to that plus the personal experiences of the leaseholders. It also contains access to useful legal knowledge and links to very helpful websites. We will keep on adding new things.
Please keep the language, civil, polite, and focused on the matters related the building and its management. Your comments can be posted under your own name or an assumed name. To proceed further, please click Login.