I live in a block of flats where each flat pays an equal share (1/10th) of the annual service charges to the building. Last year our managing agents ran up an overspend of over 400 per each flat and are now demanding a cheque to cover it.
As you can imagine out of the blue at the end of January this has pissed me right off and am wondering can they do this? If they overspend - how much should they consult us prior to paying bills on our behalf? I'm not happy to think they can "spend" without restraint whatever they feel like on the building and then charge us for it - in this case over 50% more than what we are used to paying per year.
Clearly if the building needs work done to it, I'm happy for it to be done and to budget in advance for it - in fact last year each flat had to pay over 2000 to paint the building - which I budgeted for properly and paid - but now we get this unexpectedly! I know you can't always forsee what repairs need to be made but the detailed report shows nothing extravagant - ie no big jobs like new roof, etc to cause a total overspend of 4350!
This just seems to be stretching what's reasonable to me.
Any good advice about what to do / say?
Thanks.