Trouble with Freeholder

[Trouble with Freeholder]

Hi there,
I'm hoping someone can help. I live in a small block of flats. Due to poor service from the management company over a number of years the residents would like terminate the management contract. When we put this in writing the management company came back and said our contract wasn't worth the paper it was printed on because we aren't a registered legal entity and the freeholder controls the aggreement with the management company. We found and appointed the company. We signed one contract and the freeholder signed a copy.

The freeholder is an elderly lady who has passed reponsibility to her daughter. We wanted to have a meeting or a conference call with the management company and freeholder to put our grievances across so we can switch to a new company. The management company does not do anything and is completely hopeless. Her daughter has basically said to the management company that she wants no contact at all.

So my questions are, where do we stand can the freeholder just neglect the block and refuse to listen to us, is there anything we can do?

Thanks in advance.

[JustinN]

There is not enough precision in your quention to allow for a useful response.

If you are a long leaseholder (rather than a tenant under a short term tenancy), I suggest you visit the Leasehold Advisory Service website at The Leasehold Advisory Service - Homepage where you will find a lot of useful information.

If you have a short tenancy, try this website instead: Landlord law - advice on shorthold tenancy agreements, eviction notice, more..

I hope this helps, but if you still have specific questions, by all means post them. I suggest you post any further queries in the "Solicitors and legal" forum on this site, rather than in the "Renting property" forum

[RENTDIRECTUK.CO.UK]

If most of the leaseholders come together i think its at least 50% you can form a right to manage company often known as a RTM Co ltd. Serve notice to the landlord that you have met the legal requirement to forming a RTM . Then tell the freeholder you no longer want to use the current management company.