There are only limited circumstances where you can withhold payment of your service charges without breaching the terms of your lease.
These are;
- Where the demand does not have attached to it (usually attached to the bill for service charges) the prescribed summary of rights and obligations.
- Where the demand does not contain the landlord’s name and address for service.
However, if the landlord then corrects the demands or attaches the summary of rights and obligations to these, you may be required to pay and your right to legally withhold the charges may be lost.
If you are in dispute with the managing agent or the landlord regarding your service charges, you may want to try and resolve the dispute with them first before taking legal action.
More information you might find useful:
- Letter to landlord – Payment under protest
- Service Charges and other issues: Demands for service charges
- Resolutions for service charge disputes
- Information for managers – Summaries of rights and obligations
- More Frequently Asked Questions on Service Charges
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