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Dr Brian Potter |
Home owners fight to keep right to contest ‘huge bills’
Extra time given to pay but only if charges go unchallenged
LEASEHOLDERS’ champion Dr Brian Potter this week accused housing bosses of giving with one hand and taking away with the other.
He spoke out after the leaseholders – owners of former council homes – were told they will be given extra time to pay massive service charges – provided they do not challenge the bills.
Homes for Islington – the council’s housing agency – is allowing leaseholders between five and 10 years to pay for work, but only if they first sign an agreement that they will not appeal against the cost.
Dr Potter, chairman of Islington Leaseholders Association, which represents many of the borough’s 11,000 leaseholders, said: “I believe this is an unfair contract. It’s unreasonable to expect people with huge bills to give up their rights to challenge them.
“Many didn’t ask for the work to be done in the first place and many are very unhappy with the quality of the completed work. They have a perfect right to challenge if they wish to.”
Mother-of-two Joanna Arrowsmith, from Hillrise Mansions, Warltersville Road, Archway, tried to contest a bill for £22,000 for refurbishments. “I didn’t get anywhere,” she said. “Then they sent me a letter asking for all the money at once.
“In the end I was so scared I signed up to pay over 10 years. I’ve lost the right to challenge the bill but at least I’ve got time to pay.”
Leaseholders’ bills can range from £10,000 in Milner Square, at Angel, to £45,000 at listed Spa Green estate in Finsbury, where structural work has been done.
Originally, leaseholders were given two years interest free to pay bills, with the opportunity to challenge them at local tribunals. But under a new scheme introduced by HfI, leaseholders can have a longer period to pay provided they waive their rights to challenge the bill.
Adrian Berroll-Cox, Conservative prospective candidate for Islington North, said: “If the bill is deemed to be unfair it should be challenged. It is bullying to tell someone you are not entitled to take up your right to reduce a bill.
“They should first allow people time to challenge a bill. Once that has been done they should be given time to pay it.”
A spokesman for the government-run Leaseholder Advisory Service in the City said it was the first time it had heard of a scheme where people forfeited their rights to appeal against a service charge bill.
“Various authorities have different methods,” he added. “But leaseholders should talk to us or seek legal advice.”
To find out more, contact 7374 5380 or go to www.lease-advice.org. |
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