You can watch Dispatches Channel 4 TV programme reporting on Tremlett Grove Leaseholders being overcharged by Islington Council . It’s available online here
The Dispatches website comments pages on the programme has been busy. here
Category: Leaseholders
From The Islington Gazette 16.08.2012
Days before a TV expose about leaseholder overcharging featuring Islington Council, a group of Islington Residents hope that their battle is at an end after the council was refused permission to appeal a ruling that it blew £1 million on housing improvements.
Mondays edition of investigative channel 4 show Dispatches features the Tremlett Grove Estate in Archway which was the subject of a leaseholder valuation tribunal ( LVT) in April. It found that the council paid over the odds for work on two blocks.
The ruling meant the council will have to refund around £16000 to each of the 14 leaseholders affected. more council lose appeal again
Dispatches TV pgm c4 -Monday 20 August 8pm – The truth about leaseholds
(set your video recorders)
Islington Council ( PFI) managing agent for street properties “Partners” have recently said that they will only obtain Listed Building Consents (LBC)/ planning permissions on works that they have done on properties in conservation areas or that are listed buildings IF the matter is brought to the attention of Partners directly by the resident concerned.
Islingtons Planning Conservation department on the other hand says that ” that unauthorised works carried out to listed buildings is a criminal offence. As such persons with a material interest in the property may be liable to prosecution”
Leaseholder may also find that they have an issue if they ever wish to sell their properties, and they need to obtains the the LBC’s to give to potential buyers. Trying to get consents from Partners in 2 or 10 year after works have been done may be tricky.
The ILA can’t give advice, so this shouldn’t be taken as such, but If your a leaseholder in a Conservation Area or Listed building you may want to check with the Islington Council conservation section of the Planning Department. whether the Major Works that Partners have done on your property should have had or require LBC., and if so bring it directly to Partners attention.
Please also let the ILA know if the Councils planning department confirm that council’s agents ( e.g. Partners,[the former] HFI etc) or Housing Property Services have done works to your property without getting the appropriate consents. contact
Thursday, 17th November 2011 from newsontheblock.com
In a landmark case that will undoubtedly be a gamechanger for the property management industry, the Upper Tribunal has decided that managing agents must consider the financial impact of major works on lessees and whether to phase works so they become more affordable. More
Upper Tribunal Decision
LVT Decision link
Categories
ILA Meet Wed 8.8.12
Islington Leaseholders Meeting
on
Wednesday 8 August 2012
in
Islington Town Hall Chambers
at
7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting:- Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- To be advised
Please impress upon any other leaseholder’s that you know that it is in their interest to attend these meetings regularly…
Please see Dr Potters letter published in the Islington Tribune on 20 July 2012 –
Out in the cold in race to be champion.
The Leasehold Advisory Service(LEASE) recently made a presentation to an ILA meeting on Right to Buy – Residential Leases.
The ILA are pleased to make this LEASE presentation available which includes an example of a typical Local Council lease which would be made on a Council property purchased under the Right to Buy (RTB). and an explanation in plain English what each Clause means. more
Islington Leaseholders Meeting
on Wednesday 11th July 2012
in Islington Town Hall Chambers
at 7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting:- Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- LEASE solicitors
Please view our Website www.ila.org.uk
twitter @ilaorguk
facebook http://on.fb.me/mWzios
Please let other leaseholders know of this meeting or fw emails or tweet / RT this event.
Many residents will by now have received the latest of Islington Council’s proclamations entitled “Your housing service needs you!” in which they attempt to convince us that they are genuinely intending to promote meaningful consultation in the borough.
Sadly, although not in the least unexpected, I fear that once again they are desperately trying to sell us another of their “Chocolate Teapot” promotions. … council officers have euphemistically titled the proposed new main assembly “The Islington Housing Executive”, however, since this particular body is simply there to observe the council’s decisions, without the power to either reverse or prevent their implementation, what they truly represent is, in reality, a loosely camouflaged replica of the old ALMO board of directors, claiming to be tenant representatives!
So…all in all…absolute rubbish…!
Why waste public money on this nonsense, when all that is in fact required, is a scrutiny panel,comprised of delegates from the main housing bodies in the borough, charged with reporting their findings directly back to their organisations, and afforded the power to ameliorate, or even, if necessary, challenge unacceptable council decisions…!!!
Dr B. S. Potter.
Chairman: – Islington Leaseholders Association (ILA)
Categories
ILA – volunteers wanted
The ILA is looking for a “secretary’ to take minutes and distribute them regularly to all the directors and asks for a volunteer to undertake the essential part of the work, to assist the smooth running of the organisation. If your interested contact us here.
To find out when the next works are happening to your (ex-hfi – not partners) property – Please see the Capital Programme Update – Quarter 4 (which is on Pages 35 to 67 of the Consultative Panels Central Reports May 2012)
Inspection of Accounts
Audit Commission Act 1998, sections 15 – 16
The Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011 Regulations 9, 10, 21 and 22
Each year the Council’s accounts are audited and any person interested has the opportunity to inspect and make copies of the accounts and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to them. (A charge may be made for excessive copies.)
The accounts for the year ending 31 March 2012 and documents will be available at the Council Offices, 7 Newington Barrow Way, London N7 7EP between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays from on Monday 25 June 2012 until on Friday 20 July 2012.
If you wish to inspect any documents please apply first to Mohammed Sajid, Chief Accountant, at the above address or call 0207 527 2574 or email Mohammed.Sajid@islington.gov.uk so that arrangements can be made.
From 10.00am on 25 July 2011 until the conclusion of the audit process, a local government elector for the area of the Council, or his/her representative,may:
– ask the auditor questions about the accounts. Please contact the District Auditor, Mr Philip Johnstone, at the Audit Commission, 1st Floor Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4HQ to make arrangements to ask any questions.
– object to the Council’s accounts asking that the auditor issue a report in the public interest (under section 8 of the Audit Commission Act 1998) and/or apply to the court for a declaration that an item in the accounts is contrary to law (under section 17 of the Audit Commission Act 1998). Written notice of a proposed objection and the grounds on which it is made must be sent to the auditor at the address given above and copied to me at the following address:
Finance Department,
Floor 2, Council Offices,
7 Newington Barrow Way,
London N7 7EP
Mike Curtis
Remember, it’s ‘how much’ was spent – not why. Also, bills paid, invoices, deeds and CONTRACTS can be requested for examination & copy. Good opportunity for anybody especially faced with major works bills to get hold of the relevant contract + bills and do some maths !
One could also ask the simple question, please provide all Bills paid and relevant invoices regarding property at ………… then one could compare with Annual Service Charges.