Thank you for your feedback guys. Much appreciated. Thank you. Really helpful feedback

Hi, I have a leasehold flat and the freeholder has been served a Section 20 part 1. It is to paint the exterior wall of the converted house where I live. It is a two-floor building and I own the first-floor maisonette and the freeholder owns the ground floor flat. The freeholder plans to eventually sell the ground floor flat but I think he is hoping I sell up and leave first. He (the freeholder) has sent me part one of the Section 20. It says that the deadline for submissions is the 15th February 2023. What concerns me is that he wrote to me on the 12th January this year about this notice but he told me in the next email that he sent the same day that he sourced a contractor before Christmas and he sent me the quote in the attachment. I would like to delay spending any money on this for as long as I can and so after this part 1 deadline on the 15th are there any other deadlines as I understand, a Section 20 is a three-stage process? I have sent him the details of a contractor who is a bit cheaper than the one he suggested but what say do I have in insisting that we go for the cheaper contractor please? Also, a year ago, we went halves on replacing the front door with a new door. My share was around £1,200 and I paid the freeholder back £400 a month. He was fine about that and there was no Section 20 etc. When this exterior paint work is done, it will come to about £3,500 and my share will be about £1,750 and in view of my finances, I wondered if I can repay at £400 a month. I have not asked him yet but I am worried that he may just say I have to pay the lot within a month. I am also worried because I read you have to disclose to a potential buyer that a section 20 has been served. Will this still apply once I have paid my share please? I would be so grateful for any suggestions.

Hi Stu007 Thank you so much for the above. There are two flats in this property: my first floor flat and the ground floor. It is not owned by the local authority or a social housing group. I will read through what you have included, along with the lease agreement. I will particularly examine the right to object as I think it will certainly go that way. I was not aware of such a right, so I am immensely grateful. Happy New Year.

Thank you for your response. I will read through the lease a few times. Happy New Year

I bought a first floor maisonette flat in a converted house, just over a year ago. The owner of the ground floor flat had become bankrupt in 2020 and the freeholder is seeking to acquire the property. The flat should be the freeholder's by February 2022. The freeholder told me that the lender (Nat West) had tried to repossess the property but Nat West had made a mistake with due process. I think what could have happened is that the lender had sent a court official to the downstairs property in September last year. The bank probably thought that by that time, the former owner of the downstairs flat would have had his debts discharged by the Official Receiver. However, it appears the debtor is not cooperating and the Official Receiver has suspended his discharge. I was told when I called the Official Receiver that he is still a bankrupt. I read somewhere that if someone is a bankrupt, the creditors should apply to the Official Receiver and not seek to get in touch with the individual directly. The freeholder wants to spend a lot of money on the property and the external house. Most of the building works he is suggesting are not essential or structural but more cosmetic and will help with a quick sell. When my surveyor looked at my property before I bought it, he suggested that a few things need to be done soon but others can wait. The problem is, I will have to pay for half. The leasehold document that I signed said that both leaseholders have to decide and agree on repairs. He wants to do the deciding. For instance, I want to repair the front communal door but he wants a brand new one. He suggests that I get a loan against my property. I am in my mid 50s and I have no plans to do that. He said his lawyers are fairly confident that he will have the property by February. At that stage, he will send me a list of "repairs". He said that ultimately, it could end up in a tribunal court. I feel this is unfair, as this is about him selling a flat where the former owner owed him around £5k. I am not sure if he has to pay the lender back what Nat West is owed but in either case, he stands to make a tidy profit. I would like to suggest a sink fund of about £500 a year each but he will not be interested in it as he would like the builders over ASAP. I am thinking of writing to Nat West, to see if they have given up on repossessing the property. Does anyone have any suggestions please?