Council to make leaseholder bills more transparent after series of scandals

A council is taking steps to make leaseholder bills more transparent after being hit by a series of scandals.

Southwark council will introduce itemised bills for 2024/2025 later this year, along with other measures to improve accessibility and transparency, according to a report which went to cabinet yesterday.

Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said: “I’m pleased that we’re starting to see some movement in improving service to leaseholders, but it’s nowhere near enough. 

“There’s so much further to go to ensure full accountability and transparency, which we’re still seeing Labour resist. That such a small, common sense change took so much effort demonstrates the scale of failure that needs to be fixed here.”

The new plans follow a series of scandals relating to billing, including issues around district heating, major works and residents wrongly billed for items in their yearly service charge bill.

According to the council, all leaseholders are able to request an itemised breakdown of their annual charge – a facility which has been available since 2004. 

But in October 2024 a Change.org petition called for the council to make itemised bills the default. The petition now has more than 1,500 signatures. 

The Southwark Liberal Democrats supported the campaign, and secured a recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and raised it directly with Labour bosses through questions at council assembly.  

Councillor Sarah King, cabinet member for council homes, said: “We are committed to getting service charges right for leaseholders and thankfully, in most cases service charges are accurate and do not result in refunds.

“We inform all homeowners of this as part of their billing pack and details are also online.  

“To improve engagement, we are also setting up online appointments and walk in surgeries to ensure leaseholders have every opportunity to discuss individual service charges with our Homeownership Services team. 

“We’re in the process of making itemised billing available online.”

Pictured top: Southwark council’s headquarters in Tooley Street (Picture: Google Street View)