Bill for renovation of foreign property question?

pennypitstop

My mam owns an appartment abroad (France) which is managed by a local letting agent there.
Recently she recieved a letter from the management company saying that at the recent agm it was agreed to do a lot of work on the appartment block and the grounds and the cost would be shared among the owners. Her portion of the cost will be almost 10 thousand Euro :eek:

I assume lots of the other tennants actually live in their appartments and want to do up their homes. This was an investment property for my mam and she does not have 10 grand to do up her own house let alone an investement property not worth half what she paid for it.

Any idea what might happen when she tells them she is not going to pay?

whomitconcerns

thats a toughie..

On one hand why should everyone else in the development lose out on improving their amenity due to non resident landlords not wanting to pay.

On the other...have you spoken (or do you know) other owners there, and what their take on it is?

schemingbohemia

Did she receive proper notice of the AGM? Were the details of this proposal circulated in advance of the AGM?
You're getting into the legalities of French business practise and probably need to contacta a French solicitor.

pennypitstop

My mam gets lots of mail from them but its all in French. The letting agency looks after anything to do with bills & taxes and maintainence.
She has had the place painted and rewired, the shower and boiler changed and new windows and new floors put in as were required since she bought it 7 yrs ago. So the place is looked after.

The big bill seems to be to do with the outside of the building, a new stairs and a watering system for the gardens.
10 grand (which she doesn't have either way) is far too much in these times for anyone to pay let alone a non resident. She already pays close to 1k per anum management/maintenance fees.

Where do I find a good French lawyer with good English?

Cody Pomeray

There is a ridiculous rule that we cannot tell you one, so contact the French embassy.

pennypitstop

Cody Pomeray wrote: »

There is a ridiculous rule that we cannot tell you one, so contact the French embassy.

Oops, I thought I couldn't ask for legal advice. Thanks anyway.

pennypitstop

for anyone interested: if any residents don't pay whats due (as agreed at the AGM) the management committee can sell the apartment to cover the cost of their share. In these cases the sale price will usually be way lower than the going rate. The owner can keep whats left over.
Bummer!

Pat Mustard

The Irish Embassy in Paris can also provide a list of local English speaking lawyers.