Estate Maintenance

MagicSean

Just got a letter in the door from the residents committee of my estate. It contained the following line.

"In County Meath, it is up to residents to maintain private estates, and each household is required to contribute equally regardless of size of household or location of house."

Is any of that phrase true?

Just as an aside, I have no problem paying for the maintenance but this seems to imply its a legal obligation.

seamus

It does, doesn't it? It could be some local council rule. I imagine that estates not taken in charge by the county council are obliged to somewhat maintain themselves, though it would be odd that they would try and tell you how much you should pay.

Perhaps the phrase should be split into two parts to remove the ambiguity:

1. In County Meath, it is up to residents to maintain private estates
2. each household is required to contribute equally regardless of size of household or location of house (according to the management company)

Mary Hairy

It is complete nonsense. It is a breach of Section 11 of the Non fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
11.—(1) A person who makes any demand for payment of a debt shall be guilty of an offence if—
( a ) the demands by reason of their frequency are calculated to subject the debtor or a member of the family of the debtor to alarm, distress or humiliation, or
( b ) the person falsely represents that criminal proceedings lie for non-payment of the debt, or
( c ) the person falsely represents that he or she is authorised in some official capacity to enforce payment, or
( d ) the person utters a document falsely represented to have an official character.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500.

Take a look at paragraph (c).

This kind of thing needs to be stamped out.

MagicSean

I know that a friend in mine in an estate in Navan got their name published in a newsletter because they didnt pay resident association fees. Found that to be pretty harsh.

nuac

afaik if the local authority take over an estate this means they take over liability for maintenance of sewers, drains. roads and footpaths, public lighting. Taking over does not confer ownership of the green areas on the Council and it is up to the residents to organise cutting the grass etc.

speedfight

k_mac wrote: »

Just got a letter in the door from the residents committee of my estate. It contained the following line.

"In County Meath, it is up to residents to maintain private estates, and each household is required to contribute equally regardless of size of household or location of house."

Is any of that phrase true?

Just as an aside, I have no problem paying for the maintenance but this seems to imply its a legal obligation.

It is a private estate therefore there is no public obligation involved. Look to the terms of the original lease for the property. That should give the share. Meath County Council do not compel residents to contribute equally regardless of size but the lease might.

Jo King

k_mac wrote: »

I know that a friend in mine in an estate in Navan got their name published in a newsletter because they didnt pay resident association fees. Found that to be pretty harsh.

That is defamation unless he was required to pay by lease. He should sue.