Stanley Mishap Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 As I`m in a shopping centre ,I get a `Service charge` tacked on to my quarterly rent ... I`ve Just been slapped with 10 years of `Re-assesments` of all previous years (quite legal apparently as service charge is estimated and you pay up front) ....and my current bill is £3,500. I`ve got my accountant and solicitor onto this and I can`t deny it`s a worry...but hey ho! - to use a popular current phrase `It is what it is` Yet again it`s the independants that suffer - someone like Asda or Peacocks (who are around me) would just pay it.... and apparently its a common money making tactic of these large shopping centres when times are tough. I`ll keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkD Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Wow! Surely they can't go back as far as 10 years that's insane, hopefully the legals will be able to figure something out for you. Stanley Mishap and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley Mishap Posted January 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 ...That`s the point my brief is jumping on ....`Statute Barred` legality says you can`t chase a bill over 6 years... ...So we might come to a compromise - If he can get it ! (and he`s £200 an hour too) kobblers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Surly you were told about this when you took out the lease, or your solicitor at the time should have pointed it out? TBF, all centres charge a service charge, Stanley Mishap and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 We had a similar thing happen to us with another shop we owned. 21 year lease with a rent review every 7 years (we also had the option of another 21 years), it was council owned to start with and the first review happened and it increased a small amount. Then it swapped hands 3 different times before the 14 year review. This came and went with nothing being said. Then after 20 years and 6 months they said they had finally done the 14 year rent review and we owed them £18,000. They then offered us a deal, no renewel of lease and they would forget the £18,000 but the rent would go up from £3000 a year to over £5000 but they could at any time serve us with 1 months notice to quit but we had to give them 6 months notice. So we carried on at the new rates then they wanted over £8000 a year for the rent at that point we gave notice and packed up, the shop was no longer proffitable and was becoming a drain on our turnover. Luckily we own the shop which we have always had so we don't have any problems like this anymore. Stanley Mishap 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Feel slightly angry at your predicament. Independent tenants often get shafted. My last but one rent review, my rent doubled and was back dated, two years. Got a bill for £19000. Always paid my rent on time, how could they charge me that. But it was all fully legal. In the end paid £6000. As you say ." It is what it is!" I really felt they should have taken me out on a date before f****** me. Stanley Mishap and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Phew I do not envy you guys trying to earn a crust - retirement seemed glum but I am not so sure now Stanley Mishap and kobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaloti Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 We have 2 shops and we have sub-let the 1st {to a barber} as we still have 2 years left on the Lease. I spent hours reading both of these lease's until I understood them inside out. I wouldn't take on a premises unless I was 110% sure it was water tight and I agreed with its content. No guesstimates. Its all black and white. I wont be getting any surprises when the 1st lease is up and I explained to my tenant what would be expected of him before he gets his deposit back from me. The current shop we work from has a break clause in a coup[le of years time and I will be going over it again then just to refresh and make me feel nice and cosy. I have been lucky, both of my landlords have been human beings. As for the 2nd one's solicitor, she was a proper dickhead but eventually both partie's agreed to the amended lease. It took nearly a year but I aint signing anything that may come back and bite me in 10 years time. kobblers and Stanley Mishap 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted January 25, 2017 Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 You are lucky, having landlords who are human. My landlords ( and probably Stanley in the shopping centre as well) are very large companies.this can sometimes Make negotiation, renegotiation and any form of reasonable discussion very difficult. Stanley Mishap 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I often find when getting bad news ( financially) invariably the first customer I serve complains about my prices. Makes me just want to grab them by lapels and scream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley Mishap Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Surly you were told about this when you took out the lease, or your solicitor at the time should have pointed it out? TBF, all centres charge a service charge, Yep we knew about the service charge - and its always on the quarterly rent bill as a separate add on (both of which I always pay) .....no these are `re-assesments` of the service charge I`ve already paid ...,literally a `pulled out of thin air rethink` ...Like charging a customer for a Leather sole ....then knocking his door 2 years later ,and saying `Ive had a re-think .....its another fiver for the work I did 5 years ago` ....and best of all its completely legal ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Luckily we own the shop which we have always had so we don't have any problems like this anymore. I own my shop too...............Was a good idea to buy it at the time because it was cheaper than renting it......................But at 63 (I feel Iv'e got some years left in me yet) I'm wondering what to do with it....Sell it as a going concern or gut the place and sell it....or rent it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 rent it then screw the arse off them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 That's not me Mick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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