I have just received my first "estimated" maintenance charges for 2010. Now I know this is a somewhat specialist subject so don't expect there's many out there that can help.
Anyway, the charges are somewhat higher than expected - the previous manager "suggested" they wouldn't be higher than £500 but after VAT is added on they are asking approx £850. As its an estimate I am assuming this could go up?
They have given me a breakdown, but quite frankly that doesn't help much. They have figures of that run into £1000's, for example Landscaping (don't know what they want to do), Legal & Professional fees (for what?) as well as accountancy fees, health and safety requirements - road maintenance(the park roads are new) and so the list goes on.
These are the first charges the park has submitted, so I just wondered where to go with it. Any suggestions?
Park maintenance charges
Sorry - missed this before - Blmey - we pay site fees of a whisker under £4,000 a year and some parks in the Lakes charge £5,000.
Having any sort of breakdown of how teh charge is made up is a plus (as you can challenge it if necessary).
All South Lakeland Parks would explain to me is that the "site fees are a consideration for the rights we enjoy under out licence agreements" which isn't terribly helpful.
If you want to swap bills do let me know
Having any sort of breakdown of how teh charge is made up is a plus (as you can challenge it if necessary).
All South Lakeland Parks would explain to me is that the "site fees are a consideration for the rights we enjoy under out licence agreements" which isn't terribly helpful.
If you want to swap bills do let me know
Ha ha yes indeed. No I thought it was only you that would have any knowledge of this.
That's only one of the charges, there is ground rent, buildings insurance on top as well as the usual water, elec, council tax or rates etc.
They have given us a breakdown, but at the moment are playing hardball having been challenged. Ran straight to the solicitors and told us to pay it or else. However a couple of our owners are solicitors, so mediation is being suggested or failing that the leasehold valauation tribunal.
Several owners were mis-sold, as they were told the costs of owning cottage will be no more than £1500 including council tax. I think £3-£4000 is nearer the mark, which having sold some chalets to retired people to live in (despite not having residential planning permission - yes that old chestnut), they will struggle to find on their pension.
Fortunately I have the rental to offset the costs but they don't have that luxury.
Do you have any amenities on site? We have nothing except the beach on our doostep (and that's free the last time I checked!)
That's only one of the charges, there is ground rent, buildings insurance on top as well as the usual water, elec, council tax or rates etc.
They have given us a breakdown, but at the moment are playing hardball having been challenged. Ran straight to the solicitors and told us to pay it or else. However a couple of our owners are solicitors, so mediation is being suggested or failing that the leasehold valauation tribunal.
Several owners were mis-sold, as they were told the costs of owning cottage will be no more than £1500 including council tax. I think £3-£4000 is nearer the mark, which having sold some chalets to retired people to live in (despite not having residential planning permission - yes that old chestnut), they will struggle to find on their pension.
Fortunately I have the rental to offset the costs but they don't have that luxury.
Do you have any amenities on site? We have nothing except the beach on our doostep (and that's free the last time I checked!)
In 2009 we paid for each rental lodge
Site Fees - £3,879.97 p.a.
Rates (ncludes waste colection and water) - £534
Utilities - About £250 a year in total for gas and electricity
Insurance - About £250.
Maintenance -
Annual Drain down for closed season £100
Boiler service £100
and you need to factor in about £1,000 a year on repainting / repairing the lodge
All in all I would expected to pay just over £6,000 a year per lodge at current values in addition to what I paid up front for your licence agreement.
Naughty of them to allow people to be residents on a non-residential park - that presumably is in breach of their site licence?
As regards site fees SLP told me a while back that they can charge what they wish, and they do appear to charge different amounts on different sites for essentially the same services.
Apart from the beautiful scenery our on-site facilities are basically a pub/restaurant and a laundry. No swimming pool etc, although we can use the pool at a sister site.
Site Fees - £3,879.97 p.a.
Rates (ncludes waste colection and water) - £534
Utilities - About £250 a year in total for gas and electricity
Insurance - About £250.
Maintenance -
Annual Drain down for closed season £100
Boiler service £100
and you need to factor in about £1,000 a year on repainting / repairing the lodge
All in all I would expected to pay just over £6,000 a year per lodge at current values in addition to what I paid up front for your licence agreement.
Naughty of them to allow people to be residents on a non-residential park - that presumably is in breach of their site licence?
As regards site fees SLP told me a while back that they can charge what they wish, and they do appear to charge different amounts on different sites for essentially the same services.
Apart from the beautiful scenery our on-site facilities are basically a pub/restaurant and a laundry. No swimming pool etc, although we can use the pool at a sister site.