CA 4 November 1988. Litigation arising from the sale in 1986 by landlords (L) of the freehold of flats known as Arlington Park Mansions, Chiswick to A, a company formed by the lessees of most of the flats as a vehicle for buying the freeholds. The flats were on long leases, which imposed an obligation on the landlords to repair and insure the main structure and to clean and maintain common areas subject to a service charge . This was to cover total expenditure, defined as that `incurred by the lessors in any accounting period in carrying out their obligations` and the costs of accountants and surveyors . By 1986 the flats were in disrepair. There had been difficultly acquiring a local authority grant to cover costs and surveyors were engaged to calculate the cost of repair. At this point the freehold was sold to A under the National Conditions of Sale . Completion was on 12 September 1986 when the completion statement and remaining service charges were paid. Three weeks later L`s sur