DKH estate regeneration charges

[Hoak]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone who owns a flat in dog kennel hill estate has recently received a massive bill due to regeneration work completed?

Thanks,

[the-e-dealer]

Why ? Have you ? Or is it just idle wondering?

[Pugwash]

This is the down side of owning a leasehold property on council estates.

[Mick Mac]

What constitutes a "big" bill?

[adonirum]

Although not living in E.D. ( or London for that matter ) at the time ( about six years ago ) I was still working here and that work took me into the homes of council tenants. During the course of this work, I came into contact with several older people who had exercised their right to buy back in the 80's.When work was carried out they were liable for, what was described to them, an equal pro-rata share of the bill. One particular case was a widow in her 70's who had received a bill for 16k, yes that's right, 16k for the fitting of a new uPVC front door and a double-glazed window installed in the wall, yes the wall, of the walk way balcony, replacing the iron post gaps. No. I couldn't figure that one out either. As she had absolutely no means with which to pay, Southwark Council had very "kindly" told her they would not persue her for payment, but would instead put a charge on the flat repayable by her family upon her death. Genuine sympathies to you, Hoak, if this is the type of situation you now find yourself in, but it has been going on for many many years and Pugwash is absolutely correct. It is perhaps the great swindle of the Margaret Thatcher era and policies, the full effect of which is probably still yet to come.

[gpercival78]

I have contacted Hoak via PM as we are going through the same situation but with Lewisham Council. Our block has been sent a bill for ?320,000 divided between 12 flats - ?29,000 per flat. They are not even changing any of the double glazing, which I have asked to include - what is ?2k ontop on ?29k!

A person below me bought her flat a few weeks back and on the day she got her keys, there was a lovely bill waiting for her - terrible form by the freeholder or the seller!

Unfortunately searches do not bring up this type of thing, as the council can only tell you about past or present work, they cannot tell you if there are an pending/future work going to be carried (I did try and ask and got told it was something they cannot disclose). The only letter I got was in 2009 telling me 'said' contractor had been selected as the "works" contractor for the block (they must be laughing with the amount of money they are going to get - ?320k to repaint a communal stair well and repair the roof - smells like a Harry Enfield Sketch (I saw you coming).

I have heard about the charge back but this kinda of behaviour could put you into negative equity- depending on your deposit and whether the flat has increased in value. Lets hope proprty prices keep on increasing!!!

[Mick Mac]

Yes 29k is a lot of money. I own a leashold flat and hope never to encounter this type of thing.

I think the difference between private and council is a private leasehold development with a management company will annually out of the service charge for each property (1.5-2k p/a) build a reserve with which to meet the bigger costs without having to raise a big bill - this softens the impact.

Not sure council flats work the same way, and if not don't have a reserve for this type of improvement?

[KidKruger]

The thing about these ex-council maintenance charges is that if every single owner of each individual flat separately obtained quotes for the work from different building firms they would rarely receive such exorbitant estimates per flat.

But the council, who are grouping all this work under one contract/charge, cannot even obtain reasonable costs for the works. It's blatant fraud.

[uncleglen]

All the time the Thatcher government were in power and Southwark was Labour controlled, the ordinary residents of the borough were used as political footballs. Front line services were sacrificed because the money was spent on admin in e.g. education which I was involved in and a friend of mine was in finance and blatant fraud was going on at every level there (he was told to 'turn a blind eye and write the cheques' and 'if he didn't like it he knew what he could do'). I daresay the very unpopular (in Left leaning circles) compulsory competitive tendering had fraud going on as well because there are people everywhere who think that defrauding the public purse is a victimless crime but obviously it is not. These exhorbitant charges are being used to dissuade the council tenants not to exercise the right to buy because the Socialists just hate for people to be self-sufficient in all areas of their lives.

[gpercival78]

Well put uncleglen..

Some good links here...still ?15k is quite a lot!

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/248647/Protecting_Local_Authority_Leaseholders_From_Unreasonable_Charges_v2.pdf

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2013/10/pickles-caps-council-property-repair-charges/

[woodland]

I've just started a thread about this and then remembered that this was on here. I have also just received a bill for 33,000 also from lewisham for major works. We are a block of 12 flats. 11 leaseholders and 1 council tenant. Anyone any idea how to challenge the need for all the works to be done ?? It's an insane amount of money and it seems crazy that the council can enforce this work to happen.

Any ideas how to make sure the work is actually essential? Or advice generally?

[gpercival78]

Sent you a PM Woodland

[woodland]

i have sent you a PM back gpercival78

[antantant]

Ouch. This all sounds awful.

[gpercival78]

Anyone else affected please contact me via PM (except those I have already made contact with). I have set up a seperate mail address, which I will send info from. Please send info to this address as well, once you have it.

thanks,