Southwark Leaseholder Property Maintenance

[scruffypaulo]

Hi there,

I'm new round these parts...

We bought a two bed flat at the end of last year in SE15. It is a Leasehold, of which Southwark Council are the Freeholders (quite common as I understand around bits of Peckham and East Dulwich).

In short, we're having a nightmare trying to get repairs sorted that they should take care of.

Anyone else having the same experiences? Any advice? Where to go, what to do?

Thanks,

Paul

[GinaG3]

I'm a private tenant in a flat where Southwark are the freeholder (landlord is the leaseholder). She has a nightmare trying to get them to do stuff to the external but I always try calling too, sometimes I think it just depends who you get on the repairs line. I've had to ring 3 times about drainage on the second attempt they sent someone out to investigate on their part and did find a blocked drain that they dealt with but my problem persisted as such they said it was internal and fell on the landlord for which she sorted. This took up to 18 months of back and forth 'who's responsibility' phonecalls. I've called again about drainage on our balcony which was sorted 48 hours later, no problem at all. I'm about to make another complaint about the double glazing including broken door handle, seals being completely gone, and window being unsafe to open. I hope this is as quick as the balcony as its obvious the doors and windows are a freehold issue.

I find if its things that fall on a 'yes its definitely our issue' list they will deal with it, may take a bit of persuasion, if its something that they are unsure of be prepared to put up a fight and ring everyday if needs be. I'm sure their is somewhere you can get advice on such matters but I'm not a leaseholder so haven't had to go that far.

[scruffypaulo]

Thanks Gina3,

Yes it sounds like you're right. We have resolved two of the five things, and that was through persistent phone calls pretty much daily for three months. We're now stuck on the last few and it's just useless. Lost Job Numbers, random unarranged/unscheduled visits when no-ones home, one technical inspector saying one thing, another saying another, then a contractor saying another...etc etc.

I think there are some genuine problems with their systems and processes, because it needn't be so painful.

Good luck with the Double Glazing! Let us all know if you find the magic route in!

[UncleBen]

If people were/are stupid enough to by local authority housing-all I can say is Maggie is still laughing.

[midivydale]

Just came across this thread and Uncle Ben, what an arrogant & stupid remark!

Scruffypaolo, perhaps we can exchange experiences over PM?