New Build leasehold experiences
Discussion
Having issues here but through overcharging and incompetence from the housing association.
Recent service charge increases resulted from buildings insurance premium increases through recent claims as a result of contractors causing damage. The HA basically have the policy of paying any invoice blindly (prime example was 2 different companies paid to empty our bins, 3 times in 2 days), so they can take their 10% fee on top, so obviously they were quite happy to pay the excess on the insurance claim, and then the higher premium rather than claim off the contractor for the damage.
Then there were fire safety works post Grenfell which we paid for, but then recently they also insisted that locks on hallway doors should be removed to improve ease of access, on advice from the Fire Brigade further to a recent inspection. A bit of an insult as we'd only just had the locks replaced after the contractors broke in to each of the floors to conduct the fire safety works which we paid for but the kicker is that the Fire Brigade claim never to have issued that advice so something untoward in going on. Another resident is raising this with them, by they already dismissed him when he dug out documents revealing that they had reduced insurance costs by combining policies and collecting premiums from the larger estate.
This has resulted in a 100% increase in 10 years. At least the lift has stopped breaking down but I can't help worry they'll insist there's some new energy efficiency regulations and that we need new windows and doors or insulation.
I'll probably have to leave London to get a freehold but my advice is avoid any such setup.
Recent service charge increases resulted from buildings insurance premium increases through recent claims as a result of contractors causing damage. The HA basically have the policy of paying any invoice blindly (prime example was 2 different companies paid to empty our bins, 3 times in 2 days), so they can take their 10% fee on top, so obviously they were quite happy to pay the excess on the insurance claim, and then the higher premium rather than claim off the contractor for the damage.
Then there were fire safety works post Grenfell which we paid for, but then recently they also insisted that locks on hallway doors should be removed to improve ease of access, on advice from the Fire Brigade further to a recent inspection. A bit of an insult as we'd only just had the locks replaced after the contractors broke in to each of the floors to conduct the fire safety works which we paid for but the kicker is that the Fire Brigade claim never to have issued that advice so something untoward in going on. Another resident is raising this with them, by they already dismissed him when he dug out documents revealing that they had reduced insurance costs by combining policies and collecting premiums from the larger estate.
This has resulted in a 100% increase in 10 years. At least the lift has stopped breaking down but I can't help worry they'll insist there's some new energy efficiency regulations and that we need new windows and doors or insulation.
I'll probably have to leave London to get a freehold but my advice is avoid any such setup.
Edited by R Mutt on Wednesday 1st May 19:41
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff