Freeholders solicitor overcharged
When I recently sold my flat in London the freeholders solicitor produced the management pack with bills for ground rent, insurance and service charges after I paid the fee for this. Some charges had been paid over the 3 years of ownership but there was a discrepancy of £400 as some cheques had not been cashed. Laterly I had been paying into the freeholders solicitors client account.
Just before completion the freeholders solicitor double charged for the 2014 ground rent making an overpayment of £600. In order to complete the sale this was settled with pro-rata refund from the buyer for the 2014 payments made.
How do I go about getting back:-
1) the £200 double charged for the 2014 ground rent.
2) the £400 overpayment and
3) the estimated £900 paid for nothing to the freeholder (interim payment £200 p/a less fictitious payments) as nothing had been done by the freeholder during my ownership.
I believe the freeholders solicitor has made a mistake but he has been unhelpful and won’t look again at the figures.
Can I make a complaint to the regulatory body for the solicitor ?
Can I bring a claim in the land court ?
Any advice please?
Many thanks
Steven
13 comments on this article
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Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 108
11:18 PM, 29th July 2014, About 12 years ago
I have served a seven day letter to pay and instructed a firm to collect the debt, I will add interest and costs from 1st August. I am also preparing a complaint to the solicitors regulator and will start a small claim. If this small firm of London solicitors want to play hardball then thats fine with me as I have plenty of time and experience, all I am asking from them is to repay me the money extorted from me when i sold my flat, perhaps they will value their reputation more than the money which was overcharged ?
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 108
3:49 PM, 5th August 2014, About 12 years ago
Update – £200 double charging for 2014 ground rent refunded.
Debt collectors instructed to collect the remaining £400 overcharging from freeholders solicitor (this prompted a quick response from the partners of the firm !)
Client preparing a small claim for the £400 overcharged (deadline was 1st August)
No response from freeholder as to what the £500 annual payment was for
Other lesees questioning the freeholder about charges and lack of maintenance
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1268 - Articles: 1
4:35 PM, 7th November 2014, About 12 years ago
Shakeel, I have just come back to this thread and sadly I agree that in some cases you are right. However I was speaking on the premise of what is required by law to be provided (accounts etc. ). If the parties do not do so then it is very tricky.
Simon, I am puzzled as the original poster was Steven?