Advice on 2015/16 Major Work Contract Southwark

[MirandaS]

I am seeking advice on the council's service charges with respect to Warm Dry & Safe 2015/16 batch 3 major works.

I have received a letter from Southwark stating that the final bill has been received and in March 2019 I will need to pay a further ?899.53, having paid ?3,828.19 in 2016 for repair works on a leasehold flat in Philip Walk SE15.

The work untaken apparently repairs to windows, external walls & roofs, which required larger extent of repair than expected.

Since this work was carried out, the flat has had increased levels of damp which has required me to get it repaired. It appears the gutter was unfinished which has caused water hitting the wall creating the damp. I still have to get the guttering fixed.

The so called repairs to the window remain incomplete and unfinished. The company patched up rotting wood and left the window unpainted in the inside.

The external work was a slap dash job of painting rather than fixing the damp. This has created further damp on the inside.

I would appreciate advice on what I can do to challenge this and how to go about it? Should I seek advice from a solicitor?

Thanks MS

[PeckhamRose]

Go to CAB Leaseholders and ask for a meeting. They are at 8 Market Square off Southwark Park Road. Ask for Gete Otite (pronounced Jeetay) or Helen Walpole. They will advise you. You need to make an official complaint (Stage 1), then if the reply is not sufficient you go to Stage 2 which means someone else replies. Then you have the right to go to Arbitration. Arbitration for leaseholders in Southwark is run by trained folk including other Leaseholders. I had a helluva case with them a few years ago and won a lot of money BUT would rather not have gone through 16 months of hell including severe illness as a result of the damp. When you get to Market Square for your meeting,the Home Ownership is two doors on the right before the CAB Leaseholders dept. That's the bit you want. I wish you well.

Oh, and if you have not already, get a big folder, and make a record of every phonecall you have with anyone about this case, and confirm calls with emails. Keep all paperwork in date order. Then watch their face when you turn up to Arbitration with a big file confirming all their screw ups and lies.

[MirandaS]

Thank you Peckham Rose.

[jayjay100]

Please join the National Leasehold Campaign on facebook for support and advice.Working together with the Leasehold KNowlede partnership a charity for leaseholders.

[PeckhamRose]

Thanks you! And the very independent Southwark Homeowners Council.