Benefits of Membership
What is a leaseholder association?
It is a group of long leasehold owners from a specific property who come together to address local issues and represent their fellow owners. They are almost always unpaid volunteers. They need to follow specific rules to ensure they are including all owners, who may also be residents, of a particular block or development, in decision making. They can then act as a voice for their development when bringing issues to the attention of their freeholder, managing agent, local authority and other interested parties.
What are the benefits of a leaseholder association?
- An association has a more powerful voice and influence than one individual voice
- The association’s members can appoint a managing committee to meet regularly to discuss issues of concern and seek to get them dealt with
- Members are able to meet people from their estate, exchange opinions and suggest solutions to problems, as well as organise social events
- This helps build up the community spirit of the estate
- The association enables people on the same estate to share experiences, skills and knowledge
- Associations can become a main local body for consultation when the council or developers undertake major projects.
Associations can also exercise a number of legal rights under the various Landlord & Tenants Acts. They can:-
- Ask for a summary of service charge costs
- Inspect accounts and receipts in relation to service charges
- Ask to be consulted about the appointment or reappointment of a managing agent
- Ask for a summary of insurance cover for the block
- Appoint a surveyor to advise on any matter relating to service charges
- The surveyor will have the right to see and copy relevant documents held by the landlord
- They will also be able to inspect the communal areas and appoint additional human resources to support them in their work
- Landlords or managing agents are also obliged to serve copies of any notices required under Section 20 consultations (major works where the cost is greater than £250 per owner) upon the representatives of a recognised association. In relation to these consultations, associations also have the right to nominate contractors, inspect any estimates and specifications and seek to influence the ultimate choice of contractor.