Couple left with ‘crippling stress’ after being unable to sell flat and seeing service charge more than double
Management company says service charges have been increased due to rise in fly-tipping
Flat owners have spoken of the ‘crippling stress’ of being unable to sell their property due to huge service charges.
Gary Newlyn-Jones has owned a one-bedroom flat in Pomfret Court, Far Cotton, for 13 years, which until recently he and wife Kate rented out.
After deciding to sell the property they evicted the tenant and accepted an offer on the £80,000 flat.
But the couple say they have been left in an ‘impossible’ situation after the buyer was unable to secure a mortgage due to the property’s £209 monthly service charge.
Now they have been told by property management company Residential Management Group (RMG) that the charge is set to increase to £569 for the next three months due to a deficit. The company says service charges have been increased due to rise in fly-tipping and updates to fire safety equipment.
Kate said: “With the previous tenant evicted as we had a buyer, we can no longer rent the property for one to two years under new government legislation, without facing massive fines.
“This stress of having the property empty, coupled with a £450 mortgage, £200 council tax, utility bills and now a hefty service charge rising from £209 to £565 for the next three months, plus the uncertainty of the monthly cost from the start of 2027, is crippling.
“The high service charge is making it nearly impossible to sell, even at the same purchase price as 2013 when my husband bought the flat for £80,000.”
Kate and Gary – who run a marketing company and own another property they live in – say a recent surveyor has refused to recommend the property for a mortgage due to cladding on the side of the building, creating even more stress at an already difficult time.
Kate added: “We asked RMG for a payment plan, but because it’s coming up to the end of the year they won’t give us one.
“It is very stressful with the government legislation and with the upcoming budget I feel like things are only going to get worse.”
A spokesman for RMG said: “All service charges are estimated in advance of each financial year, based on past expenditure and anticipated increases in costs.
“Pomfret Court was running at a deficit due to a combination of additional bulk refuse collections, which were required due in part to fly tipping. There were also important updates to fire safety equipment and some unforeseen maintenance works including a new water pump system and general repairs.
“Customers have been issued with a one-off invoice for payment, with the option to spread the cost over the next three months although we encourage those struggling to meet the costs to get in touch so we can spread the payments.”