written by Lyla433 on 03/10/2023
In a cost of living crisis how can anyone justify £180 for sending an email ? While I accept there should be penalties for late payments, this is ridiculous. I doubt very much that the directors of this company are wondering how they’re going to afford Winter fuel bills. Unbelievable.
written by czHatch43 on 08/08/2022
This company needs to be taken to the tribunal. The amount of “variable” administration fees they charge to leaseholder, charges that are not capped, it’s absolutely unbelievable. It makes me angry, how there is no cap of what they charge, and basically leaseholders are extorted of money and there is nothing legally stopping these companies. The law says these charges need to be reasonable, but that’s where the law stops. So leaseholders go ahead and charge what they want . People need to unite and take this company to tribunal and stop the extortion!
written by dingding1 on 01/08/2022
There is no way to select someone other than Simarc. Just be aware how they operate. They make money by hoping you miss a payment. They provide the minimum notice of ground rent (i.e. one invoice, by email, well in advance). If you defer payment, or then forget, they will, as they publish, add an excessive admin fee to send you a 2nd invoice which will be double. Nothing illegal in this. Its just their modus operandi and they prey on people not being organised or trying to manage their cash flow. If they provide Managed Services for you? Maybe you can kick them out and switch to another provider - up to you. Or, just set up a Direct Debit. Ground rents are gnerally small amounts, and so it is not worth getting fined for missing it. Just hate this company. Still
written by 1945Warner on 08/05/2022
After their request for a huge "registration fee" and repeat annual payments for their records, I have asked for clarification as to what authority they have for requesting the payments. After asking four times for this, they have sent details of a clause in my lease which appears to only cover legal transfers of the property and does not cover my position of letting out my flat on an annual Assured Shorthold Tenancy. They have also misquoted the lease, saying it permits them to charge not less than £330.00 plus VAT for the service, when it actually says £30 plus VAT. No doubt they will dismiss this as a typo. Feel really desperate as to where to turn. No advice about clauses in the lease was offered by my solicitor when I bought the flat or I might have reconsidered the purchase.
written by CJJ86 on 27/07/2019
Advice please, Simarc became our Freeholders managing Company last year. They will only email me as I am non-resident. That said they now want £138 Registration Fee with an additional £90 (which I am not sure if thats for each renewal with existing tenant or if new tenant) I have owned the property for 4 years and never had this requested before. Contacted them by phone and email asking what I thought were reasonable requests, costs breakdown, explanation of frequency. Received a curt reply basically pay. My other concern is why do I have to supply my Tenancy Agreement, surely that is a breach of privacy between me and my tenant? Perhaps I should charge them for my correspondence! Anyone know where I can find "Reasonable Costs" guidelines? Thanks
written by Sgh75 on 17/07/2019
Our request to purchase the freehold of 8 Chestnut Avenue, Whickham, was dealt with in a very efficient manner. The instructions on how to register transfer of leasehold were clear and fairly easy to understand.
written by Stevens499 on 03/05/2019
To anybody thinking of buying a leasehold property, find out who the managing company is first. If it is Simarc, I would highly recommend you avoid them. One of the biggest issues in the UK is the management of leasehold properties and this company explifies that. You will be charged extorniate fees without them voluntarily providing proof of payment, receipts, statements, etc. Also they will not give over their bank details to make it easy to pay them. Every year I have to pay £90 for underletting a flat that I own, for which this company has done nothing other than send out a letter demanding payment. For doing what? Don't trust them, avoid at all costs!
Written on: 14/06/2019
Hi, I have successfully challenged Simarc over this charge, although they wanted much more from me. You need to check your lease if it is not mentioned in it you don't have to pay it. You can obtain free advice from the lease advisory service, they are very good and all you need to do is book a time with them and then call. Make sure all your letters to them are sent recorded otherwise they will never admit to receiving them.
Written on: 15/06/2019
Many thanks for the reply, I will now contact the lease advisory service. Much appreciated.
Written on: 27/07/2019
Thankyou i will do that asap. Did they request a copy of your tenancy agreement? They are asking for £138 initial fee with a rolling £90 thereafter.
written by JessicaGarty on 02/05/2019
Simarc is the worst company I have ever had to deal with when owning a property. They will purposely fabricate things to enforce high charges on you. I had been contacting them since December to find out what I was to pay for a property I had just purchased and they made it extremely difficult refusing to take payment or telling me they didn’t know the property and making up other excuses. After a few months of me chasing them to make a payment I get hold a lady who I am assuming is the manager and she tells me that they had sent me a bill in March for the ground rent that was £135 and then 10 days later had sent a chasing later and she then told me I owed £269 for the late payment. Even with me chasing them months before on several occasions. I also had not received either of these letters she insisted they had sent, I then noticed the address had been written wrong hence why I hadn’t received them but of course they wouldn’t take blame and insisted the letter still would of gotten to me and said I had to pay the full charge. I appealed this with them and sent the money for the ground rent only via cheque and received a letter back telling me they refuse to take the payment for the ground rent which was due January 1st even though the manager had told me via email that they sent their first letter to me in March. They still are insisting I pay the ridiculous late charges. The staff are rude and impossible to deal with and I want to warn other people using them to be aware of their actions and to not pay any extra money that they are trying to get out of you. Absolutely disgusting company with no morals and should be ashamed of themselves.
written by Decency on 18/04/2019
This firm is a direputable. I have £150 ground rent fee to pay to cover 2 years to cover this year as well and they are trying to charge me £400 + for charges despite them not updating their records with me new address and not receiving any demands for them. I tried to call the company to pay the actual ground rent but they would not allow it unless i pay the charges. I then logged on to website and again you have no choice to make a variable payment. When i emailed them with the new address, and request for the charges to be removed the Head of Leasehold services sent me a letter back. He said he had not received any correspondence, clearly not the case since he sent it to my new address and added further charges to the account. Why is some government official not intervening as this is unethical. They refuse to BACS so the only way is to send a cheque to make payment for the ground rent, and i will write a lengthy letter and make it recorded to the attention of the Head of Leasehold. The Psychopath.
written by FinneganMarsh on 06/11/2018
Simarc recently took over the management of our building. Words don't express how dysfunctional and dishonest these guys are. Bordering on illegal practices in the way they treat tenants. Should be wound-up by trading standards.
written by BrianFPB on 19/05/2018
My advice is do not pay any additional charges to this company. Please get advise first as they have no remorse about badly treating decent people off. How his staff can work for him shows that they are all in it together with one aim and that is to take advantage of hard working people. Shame on you Simarc.
Written on: 30/10/2018
I believe the customer service skills are appalling. They have no respect for customers and undignified. I called this company up about my ground rent. They have taken over from LPM company and have no up to date information about the ownership of the lease. I would say this company is only out there to make money and will take every means of making the money. They requested me to contact my solictors to give them up to date information. I advised them that they should have this information and they need to contact the previous company. The woman was very rude and didn't care. They just waste ppls time and cause worry.
written by ljKenny150 on 14/05/2018
Disgraceful Customer Service . Didn’t receive first letter for annual ground rent when I received second and called up to pay had been charged over £80 for being late . Questioned it and was told couldn’t speak to a manager had to email . Emailed her and the 1st man replied ! So I replied I was waiting on a managers response not his . Manager replied exactly as he had . Not their fault you don’t get the letter they said they sent ! Coincidence days after you’ve been charged £80 you receive letter telling you you will be charged ! Their only response is it’s all in your contract . Absolutely disgraceful Company and I wouldn’t recommend .
written by Coxto470 on 03/05/2018
They are charging over £100 to £300 just for simple quotes ridiculous
written by Myersvf142 on 22/04/2018
SIMARC are charging around £100 for just a quotation to tell me much it would cost to buy freehold.
written by chmcjm on 03/04/2018
In essence an organisation solely focused on leeching money out of people owning a property. Dreadful service, unconcerned with anything other than making money for themselves. They offer no real service for anyone owning a property managed by them, their only focus is collecting fees.
written by PresleyChurch on 21/02/2018
I tried to purchase a consent certificate for solar panels on my late fathers roof. The cost was £240.00 originally. When I tried to pay this, the cost suddenly rose to £1.500.00. SCANDALOUS! This was because the sale of the bungalow would have fallen through if we hadn't paid their "ransom" fee. Our solicitor got it down to £540.00. Still £300.00 over the original fee. I am trying to recoup this money. Any suggestions?
written by Shamt73 on 30/01/2018
Poor customer service, staff need to have further training.
written by 471Evans on 05/11/2017
Shocking company to deal with,nightmare to get hold of and will bleed you dry of money. Shouldn't be allowed to do what they do with people,if I could give one piece of advice if would be don't buy a leasehold property that is looked after by simarc,it will turn into a nightmare.
written by on 05/10/2017
considering I own my own property it sure don't feel like it, cant get fibre into my property because they wont allow BT onto the premises to install & are demanding we cough up £500 to just read a letter, something to do with the wayleave agreement, BT The Local council & the Local MP have all been involved but have failed to persuaded them, even though the local parish council have paid £80'000 to be installed in the area, everyone now has fibre internet but our block. absolutely have no reason whatsoever to deny us this, considering its not costing them anything :(
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Jagsdx's Response to Sgh75's Review
Written on: 09/01/2021
Hi there, what was the process for this as I am buying a leasehold house and Simarc are the managing freehold agents?
Did u get the entire freehold without any hidden leasehold attachments or was there any?
Regards
Jag