Service charge row

May 24 2009 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

A ROW has broken out over service charges estimated at just under £1000 per annum for a leasehold flat.

Householder David Camsey claims he is not getting value for money from next year’s estimated invoice.

And he asked me to find out what he gets for his cash paid to a property management company.

He also claimed there was a danger of burglary because scaffolding was left outside for months while renovation work waited to be completed.

He said: “What I would like you to investigate is the service charge residents pay for what we get in return.

“My estimated bill was £1000 and seems to have risen considerably in the previous few years.

“For my £1000 I have the service of a man who comes in and hoovers the communal area once a week on Wednesday.

“I am told I receive a window cleaning service yet I have not had my windows cleaned recently.

“My property is now surrounded by a scaffold placed there in October to install one new window in each flat.

“My window was eventually installed in March after several broken promises by the leasehold company and their contractors.

“Whilst the scaffold is in place I am unable to open my windows due to the position of the poles.

“Not to mention the potential risk of a burglary and the local kids using it as a climbing frame.”

David, of Canterbury House, Town End Farm, Sunderland, claimed neighbours in other blocks paid considerably less.

Over to property management company Kingston Property Services, a for-profit company, for their comments.

What did leasehold property manager Paul Carter have to say?

He admitted there were delays installing the windows because the original contractor went out of business.

He admitted the presence of the scaffold meant windows were not always cleaned.

He said: “I fully sympathise with Mr Camsey’s comments regarding the scaffold and share the frustrations over the window replacement programme which has since been fully completed.

“There was a significant delay in the completion following the initial contractor going into administration midway through the works.

“I trust you can appreciate that Kingston Property Services were obviously pushing for the exact same result as the leaseholders and that every effort was made to reach a satisfactory conclusion without compromising on the quality and cost of the works.”

And the service charge?

I found out the estimated service charge for the current year is £995.

The actual charge may be less when the number crunching is completed.

He said: “It is clear that there is some confusion on the issue.

“Estimated service charges are invoiced in advance in accordance with the lease. Actual charges may be less.”

Make your own minds up on whether David gets value for money after reading the list.

He gets window cleaning every six weeks, internal cleaning once a week, 18 visits per year from a gardener and electricity in the communal area.

Residents are charged for repairs to services like the door entry system, replacement light bulbs, emergency light testing and fire alarm maintenance.

There is also building insurance and Reserve Fund Contributions for major works. Paul said the new windows were paid for by the Reserve Fund without invoicing leaseholders for any additional payment.

He said: “Service charges are bespoke to each individual development and reflect differing needs.

“Canterbury House is an older block that requires additional maintenance in certain areas and also requires additional reserve fund contributions for the external painting of wooden windows and previously the cladding.

“Please note that Kingston Property Services only receive the management fee aspect, currently £120 plus VAT, of the service charge and that all other costs are paid out directly to external contractors.”