‘It’s time for an apology’: Council urged to review leaseholder bills

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

A  council has been urged to apologise and undertake a review of bills issued to leaseholders of up to £21,500 for replacement windows, as residents question the need for the work.

Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure put the request to Hammersmith and Fulham’s Labour administration after describing how he would be at his ‘wits end’ had he been asked to pay the costs asked of leaseholders in Verulam House, Shepherds Bush, to replace the windows there.

The council, which is the freeholder, is making improvements to the block, but leaseholders must foot the bill. The local authority said the work on the windows will deliver benefits including better insulation and lower ongoing repair costs.

But, leaseholders who are obliged to pay towards the works under Right to Buy rules, point to an independent survey of five of the flats which found the windows and doors “do not need to be replaced”.

They also claim they have been unable to get simple questions answered by Hammersmith and Fulham, and since last December have been pushing for a meeting with councillors.

At a council meeting on Wednesday of last week, Diego Bertoni, chairman of the block’s tenants’ and residents’ association, raised the concerns around costs and necessity of the works with the local authority.

“What we are asking here is to have a meeting with the council that we have been denied that since December last year, to assess the several issues raised during the process of these works being completed,” he said.

Cllr Umeh said the council understands and is “sympathetic” but repeated the results of its own survey that said the windows needed replacing. Cllr Umeh said a competitive tender process had been undertaken and an external consultant hired, who found the works represent value for money.

Support has also been established for leaseholders, she said, including interest-free payment plans and advice for financial assistance, with meetings offered by council officers on a one-to-one basis.

Mr Bertoni reiterated his request for a meeting between the council and the association, adding leaseholders are not against works, but are concerned because they ‘find faults in the system’. Cllr Umeh urged leaseholders to take up the offer of the meetings with council officers, but did not commit to one between the local authority and the association.

Later in the session, a motion was proposed by Conservative Cllr Adronie Alford, and seconded by Cllr Pascu-Tulbure, which stated the local authority notes ‘with concern’ the repair bills charged to residents in properties including Verulam House.

Cllr Pascu-Tulbure said: “Personally, if a £20,000 bill landed on my doormat, I would be absolutely stuffed. If that bill was work an independent surveyor said was not necessary, I would be furious. And if I wasn’t able to have proper communication with the people sending me that bill, I would be at my wits end.

“It’s time for an apology and a review.”

An amended motion was proposed by Cllr Umeh, and seconded by Cllr Max Schmid, which stipulated the council’s ‘moral and legal duty’ to ensure homes are kept safe, before detailing some of the support provided. It also noted the Right to Buy legislation, under which the borough’s previous Conservative administration had also charged leaseholders.

On the independent assessment completed for leaseholders, Cllr Umeh pointed to some of the caveats featured in the report, including that a more detailed investigation would be required and a specialist survey commissioned, which she said Hammersmith and Fulham had done.

When put to a vote, the amended motion was passed.

Pictured top: Diego Bertoni and Cristina pose for photos with her daughter in Verulan house (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)