Council leaseholders

[lousmith]

Hi, I'm looking for people who have purchased a long lease from Southwark council for their home and have been asked to pay unreasonably high service charges connected with mainly exterior decorations. I am in the process of taking the matter to a tribunal and would like to cross-reference to similar cases. Even if you have swallowed the pill and paid the amount, you can still argue a reduction through the courts, and the added numbers will add weight to this and future actions. The charge for scaffolding seems to be the biggest con, with approximately a ten-fold over-charge. Please let me know as the clock is ticking......I have given Southwark 7 days to respond to my last-ditch attempt at an amicable solution. Thank you.

[lpool]

This is not a new issue with the selling of council housing. I seem to remember Westminster did something similar - sold off part of a block and then charged for their share of repairs. With no sinking fund this can run into 10s of thousands a year. Anyone considering buying one of the flats for sale on Dog Kennel Hill should ensure their lawyer goes carefully through the service provision obligations.

I once had a similar experience with a private landlord who owned a large row of terraced maisonettes. They sold about 35% and then proceeded to undertake major works, primarily on the unsold section. As all came under the same leasehold and management company, they were able to do this at the time.

[mark elvin]

Hello Lousmith,

I have also been served with a bill from Southwark council for a major Works contract and am in the process of organising with my fellow leaseholders some way of holding the council to account for their propossed works. It seems that Southwrk council have now decided after years of neglect that they will throw 800K at the building and expect the leaseholders to cough for their share whilst the tennets will be free of any charges, how can this be resonable..?

Are we expected to pay for the social welfare through our taxes and then again through a service charge because we don't rely on the state to put a roof over our head.

We are getting a consultation from someone who does this sort of thing for a living so will be interested to see if he thinks we have a case to bring.

[david_carnell]

No, but you all took advantage of the social housing system and bought property at cheap prices.

So, when it suited you the situation was fine. Now you're complaining that you have to fork out your share of repairs?!

You can't have it both ways.

[mark elvin]

I don't have an issue with paying my share of the repairs.

It's the fact I'm served with a bill for 27k and told I have limited options to appeal against it by council employees at the consultation meeting.

[ontheedge]

Not all who live in ex council properties bought them at cheap prices it is only those who were previously council tenants had the right to buy. So it's not necessarily a case of having it both ways and if the council used some of the astronomical service charges they collect to maintain their properties they would not need to do such major works.

[minder]

Mark - ?27,000 is a LOT of money so can understand your concern. Hope you get somewhere with your consultation, but to say tenants are free of any charges is wrong as they do pay rent!

Your second paragraph "are we expected to pay for the social welfare...." is a bit uncalled for too.

[PeckhamRose]

Leaseholders Association of Southwark

Join.

It's ?12 a year.

You get a lot of volunteered professional help for that.

Edited to add:

There is a meeting of the Leaseholders Association of Southwark this coming

THURSDAY 2nd June 2011 at 7.30pm

at the

UNWIN and FRIARY Tenants and Residents Association Hall,

33 Frensham Street, off Peckham Park Road.

Come along, meet the members and committee members who act on your behalf (or will do when you join) and ask questions.

[mark elvin]

Minder,

Granted that was a bit strong, I retract it.

PRose,

Will join up.