Service charges and rent debacles

A Green councillor has been left reeling after being told by Lambeth council officers that he would have to wait two months before receiving a full response to Green concerns about extortionate rent and service charge increases.

For the residents most in need of help, this will come too late, as Lambeth have said to them “avoid paying the revised rent by ending their tenancy.”

Tenants at the Glebe Sheltered housing in Streatham and other estates in Lambeth have been hit with an additional bill of over £240 – £300 per month because of an extortionate rise in service charges.

In a letter sent to residents last month, the council’s only advice to those unable or unwilling to pay this rise is to ‘end your tenancy’.

In the midst of a brutal cost of living crisis, tenants have just four weeks to fork out an extra £60 to £76 a week or leave their homes.

Councillor Scott Ainslie asked council officers on March 1 what support was being given to estate residents he had spoken to who had been reduced to tears after receiving the letter outlining the staggering 350 per cent increase in service charges from the council.

It took until the March 17 for him to be told in an email that, although it was unfortunate, “these costs are outside Lambeth council’s control.”

A council officer suggested residents make use of the one-time payment of £400 through the Government’s Energy Support Scheme, or Lambeth’s council’s own welfare Rights Service, but this is only available to residents who have a long-term serious health condition or disability, or for residents caring for a disabled child or child experiencing serious long-term ill health.

Cllr Ainslie said: “For all Lambeth Labour’s words about protecting the most vulnerable during a cost of living crisis, earmarking in their budget £5.4million in their much publicised Hardship Fund, it turns out it cannot be used to help the increasing rent and service charge for more than 3,000 council tenants, who are all trapped by the centralised and wasteful heating and hot water systems.

“It’s time Lambeth Labour’s actions matched their words!” I have asked officers to ensure that all that can be done will be done to avoid no fault evictions, end of threatening letters and build up of arrears and that all mitigations are taken urgently to stop wasteful energy use in all of the properties affected. ”

Cllr Scott Ainslie
Green Party Councillor for Streatham St Leonard’s Ward.
By email

Picture: Pixabay/mohamed_hassan