In simple terms, a Section 20 Notice informs you that we plan to enter a long-term contract with a new suppliers. Our letter includes a Section 20 Notice of Intention that outlines our proposal and the reasons behind it.
To meet the requirements of the law, the Notice is written in formal legal language, but here are some frequently asked questions, which we also included with the letter, that should help explain everything.
You’ve been sent a Section 20 Notice because we have a responsibility to consult with you about any changes that are to be made to services, repairs, maintenance, or improvements that are covered by your service charge.
The Section 20 consultation process is a consultation process designed to give leaseholders the opportunity to have their say on proposed services. This relates to certain services that we use your service charge to pay that aren’t part of the usual day-to-day running costs of your building.
Depending on the circumstances of the work or contract, you will be sent the following:
Yes, we can send you a copy if you request it. Please send your request via email to [email protected], marking your email ‘Repairs and maintenance services’, along with your name and address.
For all contracts that are rechargeable via a service charge we go through a tender process to ensure we demonstrate value for money and best practice. The tender is carried out and evaluated based on an assessment of both cost and quality of works. This is in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 legislation.
The tendering process will involve different stages and we shall be able to shortlist suppliers to enable us to identify and accept the best possible offer to deliver the services.
We will be actively engaging with our customers throughout the tender process. Please email [email protected] should you wish to be contacted about your involvement in the tendering process or are interested in taking part in this process.
The tender process will take between four and six months. Consultation with customers will take 30 days from the date of the Notice which was 2 September 2024. After the tender has been completed, a second Notice and consultation period will start which will also be for 30 days.
As this Section 20 Notice relates to long-term agreements (a contract more than 12 months), you will be charged via your service charges. We will provide you with a breakdown of the costs later in the consultation. The amended service charge will be apportioned (divided up) between all qualifying properties, whether they are occupied or not.
Yes, you can make suggestions to the proposed services. These are known as ‘observations’. You have 30 days from the date of the Notice, which was 2 September 2024, to make your observations in writing. We will reply to you within 21 days.
The law says you can only make observations in writing. If you have any observations please send them to [email protected] or via letter to Moat, Mariner House, Galleon Boulevard, Crossways, Dartford, Kent DA2 6QE.
All observations are recorded, and we will consider each observation individually. We will provide a response summarising all the comments received in one letter.
No, this does not mean that you will be receiving all of the services under the new agreement. Within the requirements of the contract, a day-to-day repairs service will be provided however there is options and flexibility for additional services to be added under the repairs and maintenance contract in the future. As we have identified the services that could become part of the contract in the future, we have included these within the Notice.
No, you will continue to pay for these services via your service charge or rent if it is Moat’s responsibility as your landlord to provide these.
If you have any questions about this process, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email us at [email protected] with the subject line 'Repairs and maintenance services,' or call 0300 323 0422.
