Category: Leaseholders

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Election Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Meetings Service Charges

ILA AGM & Meeting Wed 13 June 2012

ILA

Islington Leaseholders Association

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(meeting in public)

Wednesday 13th June 2012, 7pm

Main Council Chamber, Islington Town Hall,

Upper Street N1

Agenda

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1/

Introduction and Annual General Meeting 2011-2012:
7pm-7.30pm
a) Chairs Report

b) Treasurers Report 2011-2012

c) Resolution regarding Audit of Accounts

d) Election of Directors/co-opted directors

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2/

Chair opens monthly meeting 7.30pm

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3/
Guest speaker: Ms Patricia Napier (Barrister) who has been advising leaseholders and acting for them on a Pro Bono basis. 7.35pm-8pm
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4/

Questions and answers from leaseholders 8pm-8.30pm

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5/

Any other business 8.30pm-9pm
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NP:- Please let other leaseholders know about this meeting especially those who do not have email or tweet / RT this event.thank you.
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Hosting the meeting:- Dr B.S. Potter Chairman ILA

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Woman saves Islington taxpayers a fortune after spotting council window blunder

By JON DEAN Thursday, May 10, 2012
A woman was horrified when she found the council planned to charge her to replace the windows in her home – even though they were still covered under guarantee.

Vicki Leonard, 55, of Haslam Close, Islington, says the council had no idea about the warranty and was set to charge all the block’s residents for the work.

She called to protest, and says the council officer knew nothing about the 10-year-promise.

A spokesman for the council said: “The council retains guarantees for major works and we apologise that in this case there was an unacceptable delay in dealing with this request.” more

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Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

LVT refuse Islington council appeal against poor works and overcharging decision – Tremlett Grove vs LBI

The LVT recently confirmed that it considers Islington council Major Works charges were not reasonably incurred, and that one roof had been replaced & charged for without any clear evidence of inspection by the council, and that leaseholders were entitled to expect that blocks were inspected before substantial costs were incurred.

The LVT upheld it original decision of Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

The leaseholders concerned saved 10’s of thousands of pounds off their bills.

The council may still appeal again, but the real questions are why is the council wasting taxpayers money in making appeals rather than investigating its contractor(s) and staff responsible for the issues pointed out by the LVT ? and Is the Council going to obtain a full refund for the overcharging from its contractors so all tenants affected can benefit from the LVT decision , or are LBI to pass the cost back onto tenants and leaseholders in increased service charges in future bills ?

You can read the refusal statement LVT Refusal statement 26 April 2012

The LVT upheld it original decision of  Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12 see below post LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Newsletter

CARL summer 2012 Newsletter

Carl is leading the campaign to end the infamous leasehold style of residential property ‘ownership’ that still exists in England and Wales. There summer 2012 news letter is available on their site here

The ILA newsletter is aslo available for download here.

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Meetings

ILA monthly meet 9.5.12

Islington Leaseholders Meeting 

on Wednesday  9th  May 2012

in Islington Town Hall Chambers

at   7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting:- Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- TBA
Please view our Website www.ila.org.uk    Twitter @ilaorguk   Face Book http://on.fb.me/mWzios
Please let other leaseholders know of this meeting or tweet / RT this event.
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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Islington Local press letters on Tremlett Grove vs LBI LVT & LBI waste April 2012

Islington Local press letters on Tremlett Grove vs LBI LVT & LBI waste April 2012
in “campaign” section of site here

 
 

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Newsletter Partners PFI Service Charges

ILA spring 2012 Newsletter Download

You can download a pdf of the ILA spring 2012 newsletter here ILA newsletter Spring 12 Final

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders

ILA spring 2012 newsletter

If your a Leaseholder and you haven’t received your ILA spring 2012 newsletter yet, Please email us on “ilaorguk at hotmail.com” with your name and address and we’ll send you a newsletter.

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Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Listed Buildings Major Works Service Charges

Leaseholders get massive bill reduction at LVT for extremely poor major works, and massive overcharging.

One of the most important Leasehold Valuation Tribunal LVT decisions to date, from an Islington leaseholder’s perspective, was announced last week, (Merryweather court and Brennand court vs the mayor & burgess of Islington 29.3.12).

Please see the downloadable LVT decision pdf for details on the bill reductions, and to see how Islington leaseholders supported their claims before the LVT, plus the degree of detail they provide in evidence of shoddy workmanship, overcharging and gross mismanagement.   LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

Examples of the council overcharging identified by the LVT include roof works charges of £208,661 which were reduced to  £50,000, i.e. £25,000 per block. and asbestos removal charges of £157,371 that the Tribunal reduced to reasonable expenditure of £15,737.

This is one example, where the Council has authorised expenditure without satisfying itself that the expenditure is really necessary, and it demonstrates what can be achieved when leaseholders have the courage to challenge the bills they are sent, and demand that council officers ,  councillors and their contractors  are made accountable for their actions.”

Since the ILA can only supply ‘useful information’ on our web site, and not “advice”, as always, we suggest that you should obtain ‘professional independent legal advice’ before considering issuing such a challenge.

The Islington Gazette  has reported that millions of pounds of public money could have been wasted.

The ILA has already lobbied Islington Council, and, both the leader of the council, and the chair of housing, in regard to applying the reductions obtained by Merryweather/Brennard Courts leaseholders to all leaseholders in the same contract, and insisted that the council also reclaim, on behalf of the public purse, all monies related to tenanted properties in the same contract.   LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

 

Please feel free to pass on to other leaseholders you think may be interested

 

Late News:  The ILA  understand that LBI intends to appeal the decision.

 

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Financial ILA Information Islington Lands Tribunal LBI Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Leaseholders’ massive victory over repair costs at Tremlett Grove estate opens door for more challenges

Published: 13 April, 2012  by PETER GRUNER  IN an historic decision, a tribunal has cut repair bills for seven Archway leaseholders by a massive 60 per cent because much of the £2million remedial work on their estate was unnecessary.
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Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Service Charges

Leasehold Insurance Policy Powerpoint Presentation & check your premium 04.12

Enclosed is the London Borough of Islington/Homes for Islington Leasehold Insurance Policy Powerpoint Presentation made by LBI brokers JLT last night to the ILA meeting. Thanks to JLT and LBI for answering questions. Insurance PPS presentation to ILA by HFI LBI JLT – 04.2012

 

Leaseholder may find it instructive to confirm their insurance premium is being correctly calculated by multiplying the “rebuild value” of their property by the current premium rate used of 0.1249% to obtain your annual insurance premium cost. eg £200K rebuild cost X current premium rate 0.1249%.= £249.80 You can obtain the “rebuild value” of your property from your relevant managing agent e.g. Council , HFI or Partners.