Leaseholders’ Representative Group

Keith Nials, vice chair, has pointed out that if you have recently had your television aerial upgraded to a digital aerial by the VAHT (albeit unannounced in some cases!), and if it was installed in the previous financial year (2007/08 ) you are entitled to a 50% reduction as part of the phased in service charges for the initial period when they were introduced. Even if you have paid the full amount, you should reclaim 50% back in credit against future bills.

Remember, you do not need to pay anything to the Trust until you are issued with an actual bill. The Trust is inviting leaseholders to pay the estimated charges by direct debit if you need to spread the payments, but another option would be to set up a dedicated savings account so that you earn the interest until the actual bills are issued, and not the Trust!

This Thursday (1st May) the LRG will be holding an Open Meeting where all leaseholders are encouraged to attend and show support of the LRG’s cause.

The LRG has sent out a newsletter announcing this, which contains a questionnaire, but our database is limited.  It appears that only today have invitations been arriving to remaining leaseholders which the VAHT has sent out for a meeting which happens in just two days!

Even if you are unable to attend this meeting, please do return the questionnaire to us and any additional feedback or questions you would like raised at the meeting.

Download the newsletter/questionnaire (67Kb) which can be returned by post to the VAHT offices or click here to answer by e-mail.

Your details will not be passed to any organisation without your express permission.

Want to extend the lease on your property? Want to buy the freehold?

For more information click - www.leaseholdguidance.co.uk - or call 020 7428 1970

Minutes from the LRG meeting held 6th March 2008.

Download minutes from this meeting (PDF 75Kb).

On Page 7 of the Bucks Herald dated Wednesday 5th March it was printed:

A meeting between the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust (VAHT) and leaseholders angry with the introduction of service charges yielded positive results, both sides have said.

The long night of discussion took place between the trust and the Leaseholders’ Representative Group last month. Talks went on late into the evening and chairman of the LRG, Tom Watt, said they broke up with his side feeling more optimistic about the relationship between the two parties, which had become strained.

He said: “We may at last have some mutual trust and the relationship between the two sides appeared to take a turn for the better. The trust answered some of the questions that the LRG have been seeking since the take-over and promised further clarification as we move into the second financial year.

“Although there is still a long way to go I think it would be fair to say that we had won on a couple of very important issues and felt happy with other compromises,” he added.

Ian Silver, director of housing and customer services at the trust, said the meeting was ‘very positive.’

“The trust is pleased that the LRG recognise the positive steps we have made together and that they will be reporting this back to their members,” he said. “From our point of view, this positive outcome is what we have been working hard to achieve.”

On Page 7 of the Bucks Herald dated Wednesday 13th February it was printed:

Leaseholders to challenge the levying of charges

by Adam King, Reporter (adam.king@bucksherald.co.uk, 01296 619764)

Leaseholders upset by service charges imposed by the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust are ready to take their case before an independent tribunal.

The charges were introduced last year for the maintenance of shared facilities, amounting to bills for hundreds of pounds. Angry leaseholders argue the charges are too high, do not offer value for money, are unfair and vary even within the same block.

Discussions between the Leaseholders’ Representative Group (LRG) and the housing trust have been on-going since the summer, but Tom Watt, chairman of the group, said the relationship between the two parties is now very low.

“We are their customers but they are ignoring us completely. They asked us to put all our questions to them and that they would answer them but they have mostly not been answered, and the ones that have are rubbish.

“They won’t provide us with figures or prove how they have come up with their figures. The two sides have been pushed apart but we have tried and tried to get along.”

The group has spoken to the Leasehold Advisory Service about the possibility of taking their case to a tribunal, which would make a binding ruling on what constitutes a reasonable service charge.

“We have never denied we have to pay service charges, but they need to be fair and equal,” said Mr Watt.

“We are looking to put a case for the tribunal together for ratification at our next meeting in March, unless the trust pulls something out of the bag before then. There are examples of tenants from other parts of the country winning at a tribunal, and we are confident we can win.”

The trust says that leaseholders are free to challenge the levying of charges through the Residential Property Tribunal, and that it would co-operate fully with any recognized third party who might be consulted by the LRG.

Ian Silver, Director of Housing and Customer Service at VAHT, said: “The trust has worked hard to establish, support and continue the working relationship with the LRG.

“We have stated our determination to be fair in the levying and administration of the services charges, introduced a 50 per cent discount for the first year’s charge and launched new services for the leaseholders, like low cost home contents insurance.

“We have opened our books and been transparent in our answers to all their questions.

“The LRG know my door is always open for further discussions and that we are working to improve our levels of customer services”.

Mr Silver added that in November Mr Watt was given free access to all trust records relating to the calculation of the service charges, and that the trust has provided answers to the written questions raised.

Log on to http://lrgaylesbury.wordpress.com for updates on the LRG.

Minutes from the LRG meeting held 5th February 2008.

Download minutes from this meeting (PDF 58Kb).

Minutes from the LRG meeting held 10th January 2008.

Download minutes from this meeting (PDF 73Kb).

Minutes from the LRG meeting held 8th November 2007.

Download minutes from this meeting (PDF 47Kb).

Minutes from the LRG meeting held 4th October 2007.

Download minutes from this meeting (PDF 40Kb).