Leaseholders 'face ruin' over repairs charge (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Leaseholders 'face ruin' over repairs charge

9:39am Friday 12th September 2008 in Search By Jonathan Moyes

LEASEHOLDERS living on a Walthamstow estate are fearing financial ruin after they were charged over £20,000 each for "unnecessary" repairs.

The council's housing management company Ascham Homes has handed leaseholders on the smallest block of the Stocksfield Road estate a total bill of nearly £800,000 for the work, which is being carried out as part of the Government's Decent Homes programme.

Leaseholders throughout the estate have received similar bills.

The repairs include installing new roofs, windows, and improvements to balconies which many insist do not need replacing.

The angry homeowners claim Ascham Homes failed to consult them over the work and they are worried the bills could lead to them losing their homes.

Leaseholder John Rolstone, 63, said: "How can they expect pensioners to come up with that sort of cash during the credit crunch?

"I don't understand why these works are necessary when my home is perfectly fine."

Another leaseholder Melanie Briggs added: "Many of us are struggling to keep afloat financially as it is. Ascham Homes' actions will almost certainly force householders into poverty, bankruptcy and even repossession."

"One person bought a flat last November and was assured that no more than £4,000 of improvement works were anticipated in the next four years when his searches were carried out.

"Less than a year on his house price is dropping and he has been told he will be expected to stump up £26,000."

A recent landmark ruling by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal found Ascham Homes was misleading leaseholders.

It stated that the company cannot charge homeowners more than £250 for work without a consultation process.

The ruling is expected to force the council into reviewing its relationship with housing contractors.

The consultation must consist of a full investigation into what work is being done and the cost.

Ascham Homes insist the leaseholders were consulted about works taking place under the Government's Decent Homes programme, but admitted the process was not clear cut.

"Ascham Homes and the Council are evaluating the programme in the light of the ruling and taking further legal advice.

"The appropriate actions will be taken and may involve the delay, bringing forward and suspension of parts of currently let projects.

"It is not possible to say precisely how Stocksfield Road will be affected at this time."