Major Works 2016 Bill

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  • #4068
    miccael
    Participant

      Hello there,

      I am new here and was forced to come here because I cannot find any info about my Major Works Bill anywhere else.
      I live in a block of flats where the lifts has been changed to the new ones.
      During the works I got a bill of about £ 8000 but the bill breakdown is ridiculous. Some of the expenses spent makes no sense to be that high. How come a 19-storey building with 6 flats per floor has a bill such that every flat has to pay about 8000 pounds? Lifts are not bad, they are good, but how can the cost so much. I was not told that such works are going to be before I bought the flat.
      I contacted Camden, they said everything as it should be, no change in bill but I can pay monthly until 2018 which is a bit better than paying 8000 now. However, the system does not work. I cannot pay anything on camdenaccount website.
      Any help is appreciated.
      Thanks

      #4069

      Hi Miccael. You need to speak to your solicitor as they should have warned you about forthcoming major works when you bought the property (depending on how long you have been living in the flat). You can speak to Leaseholders Services within Camden Council to find out when they first issued the notice that there would be forthcoming Major Works as they would have had to do statutory consultation.

      Regarding the charges, it’s during the consultation process that you need to start fighting this, so it may be too late, unless the works are substandard or there have been significant costs over and above the additional estimate. Here’s a document we’ve written, but is due to be substantially revised later on this year, on this matter: https://www.leaseholdersforum.org.uk/guides/heating-options (it particularly focuses on heating systems, but the principles are the same)

      Others may have more advice!

      p.s. If you have problems paying online in installments call Leaseholders Services and they will be able to guide you.

      Best regards, Paul

      #4070
      Anthony
      Participant

        Hi Miccael,

        One point of clarification – have the works been started yet or a date set?

        As Paul and the rest of the Forum will be aware, there was some controversy over the bills that were sent out with the Service Charges (and stated as ‘Invoices’). It transpires that they sent bills out to everyone who *might* have Major Works this year but (in my view) hid in the covering letter the fact that you did not have to pay this until it was confirmed these works were in fact going ahead

          .

          In my case I received a bill for Lift Works but before I had even received the s20 Notice. I am waiting for the s20 process to be completed before I start to pay this bill.

        #4071
        miccael
        Participant

          Dear Paul and Anthony, Thank you for the responses.

          I have been living in my flat since 2012 however I follow all my local news and ongoing projects at my residency.
          “Major Works” started this year but the leaseholders such as me, were not aware of the estimated costs of this project. From what I know, the works are about to be over.
          It felt like Camden decided to make improvements, opened discussion to the residents and guess who came and happily accepted it? Residents who rent in my block. Only About 10% of the occupants in my building are actually owners like me. But they don’t pay for Major works (at least directly), because their landlord owns the flat.
          My neighbour has a flat identically to mine, he pays about £ 100 per week for rent. That’s it. And added, obviously, the utilities. But I have to pay Council Tax + Service Charge + Any Major Works things. Well, I am a student, so no Council Tax for me but apart from paying the whole price of my flat I need to pay so much in addition? Our lifts were working fine, If I knew it would cost me personally 8000 for the new ones, then I don’t want that. I vote against these Works. But my “vote” does not count as the survey and discussion is between those who LIVE not those who OWN.
          Even if their rent might increase because their landlord has now to pay 8000 for these works, it affects me much more than those who rent.
          Basically, if Camden decides to plate our building in gold, those who live here do not care about how much it costs to the owners. They want any improvement to go ahead. (if you consider Golden building to be improvement, but that’s not the point)

          I’ll give Leaseholders Services a call tomorrow about the website issue. Here’s how it looks like for me. screenshot

          • This reply was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by miccael. Reason: image does not show
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