I?m afraid we too own the least hold flat with southwark being the free hold . We own 2/3 of a Victorian house with a council flat above . Every five years they expect to refresh the paint work even when it doesn?t need it and a couple of years ago they were supposed to be doing major works to the property which weren?t done . The scaffolding went up for over a year , three days work done by the worst painters for just the window sills at the front and some pointing work . The back was never done and the painters were sacked for a bad job .they wanted to charge us over ?8,000. Through a lot of letters and group meetings with council officials coming round they then could see the work hand to been done for which we were being billed for , so it was reduced to ?1,800 . I hope you can buy the freehold it would save this problem happening !