helenmct21

Hello I have continued to correspond with Southwark regarding the charges (over 1K actual on top of ?800 estimate already paid for a one bed flat) above but to no avail. I had a meeting with them on Friday where the member of staff I spoke to basically said that they sympathised and understood my frustration, personally didn't think it was fair, and would feel aggrieved in my shoes, but the Council had followed their procedures and they didn't think based on previous cases that I would be successful at a tribunal. Frustrating! I have submitted a formal complaint which I'm waiting to hear back from, although I have been told that my complaint will be referred back to the team I have been dealing with, so I'm unlikely to get a different response. However at least my frustration will be formally recorded. I have spoken to the national CAB (who couldn't offer much advice) but not yet to Southwark CAB (I have been trying to get in touch but difficult over the Christmas period - I'll try again this week). I've not had any luck getting i touch with the Leaseholders Advisory Service - any tips? Meanwhile I am told Southwark will contact my mortgage company this week which is a headache. Also, any tips on how I can get involved to lobby for longer terms changes in the system? My situation is a converted Victorian terrace with myself as a leaseholder on the ground floor and council tenant on the first floor, council tenant rings up lots of responsive repairs which are not chargeable in their rent but are 50% chargable by me therefore I feel frustrated that I am being charged for responsive repairs that I have no control over (and unlike a larger block of flats is not diluted between many properties). The person I spoke to at the Council implied that this was a common complaint from leaseholders. I like the proposal that was communicated recently about a 'fixed service charge' but don't imagine that is coming to play at great speed... Thanks and Happy New Year. Helen

Hello, Thanks to those that replied to my post. What a nightmare! I now have an itemised bill, totalling ?3,100K, for which I'm asked to contribute ?1.5K (all works relate to the one bed, single occupant, flat above mine - none related to my flat). The itemisation shows it includes items relating to Jan and March 2013 which are presumably out of scope for the 2013/2014 invoice which should only relate to 1st April 2013 to 31st March? Secondly, it includes window renewal way above the ?250 mark where I should be consulted - they may well come back saying consultation only applies to major works not responsive repairs - but what is to stop them chalking things up as responsive repairs when they should be major works? Also what's to stop them itemising charges on different ledger lines so each item is a smaller charge beneath ?250, but they still add up to ?1000s? The flat above me has called up a total of 15 window repairs in the last two years, amounting to ?3673, of which I'm asked to pay half. This is in a one bed flat with 6 windows, or ?621 per window, and only two of these repairs have been replacements. Is it just me or is this a crazy amount of charges for such a small flat - a number of them seems to be repairs on the original jobs - ie it hasn't been done properly and then they've charged to go and revisit. And overheads on the whole lot - even though some are the same items raised on the same day (ie repairs to two different windows) where surely economies of scale on overheads kick in? Anyway, I have relayed all this to the council in an email yesterday, I am hoping I get a good response back before too long. There is a good post here on support for Leaseholders and I'll perhaps follow up with these organisations http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/178495 If anyone has up to date contact details (other than postal address) for LAS that would be handy, as well as any other tips for dealing with these matters. Thanks in advance!

Hi there I received my actual service charge letter yesterday for my one bed flat in Peckam Rye. They have stated an actual service charge of ?1.949 against an estimated charge of ?821, therefore are asking for an extra ?1,128 payable in one month. I can't believe it. Really really hoping it is a mistake. The increase is shown as due to responsive repairs - I have had no responsive repairs to my flat in the past year or indeed since I moved in. I have written to them but no response yet. Has anyone else had this happen? Would really like to know if others have received similarly huge bills? Thanks