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Financial Housing ILA Information Islington LBI Leaseholders Service Charges

‘Legalised money laundering’ by Islington Council – Gazette Letter of the week

For those of you unable to obtain last weeks Islington Gazette dated 6 September 2012.

Please click here  IslingtonGazetteLetters06.09.12

The Islington Gazette – Thursday 6 September 2012  , Page 18 – Letters

1)      Letter of the week – ‘Legalised money laundering’ by Council

By Dr Brian Potter, Islington Leaseholders Association/

Federation of Islington Tenants Association

2)      Leaseholders – A silence that is far from golden

By Kay Newsom, Islington Leaseholders Association member

 3)      Democracy – Champions must not be chumps

By Richard Rosser Highbury New Park. N5

Send your letters to islingtongazette.letters@archant.co.uk

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Financial Information Islington LBI Leaseholders Service Charges

Islington Council must face investigation for scandal of contractor overpayments

Islington Gazette reports calls for investigation into Islington Coucil “…Islington council had a vested interest in overcharging by contractors …… The message being sent out to contractors by Islington council is ” if you get caught overcharging, don’t worry we will pay the legal cost with public money to defend your actions…..”

Full   Islington Gazette  articles here  

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Financial Housing ILA Islington Leaseholders Service Charges

Islington town hall’s ‘sweetheart deal’ with building firm is condemned

A legitimate arrangement between the council and building firm Kier, which ran from 2000 to 2010, saw each party receive £12.1million of taxpayers’ money over the ten-year period.

The council confirm that the share they received will be spent on building new homes, but many leaseholders, who are charged for repair work, feel they are entitled to some kind of rebate because they believe they paid their share of the full estimate, not the actual cost.

Full   Islington Gazette article articles here  

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Housing ILA Information Islington Lands Tribunal LBI Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges Website

TREMLETT GROVE LVT Findings summary

 This is a precis of the ruling earlier this year by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal regarding work that took pace on the Tremlett Grove Estate. The case featured on the Dispatches programme broadcast on Monday 20th August 2012.
It is written by a layperson, not a lawyer, and should not be relied upon for legal use or to encourage you to take legal action. It is written for your information.
If you wish to dispute your bill in any courts or at the LVT, the ILA  strongly suggest you should always seek legal advice from lawyers experienced in UK leasehold contracts.  You can find the original decision at the Lands Tribunal website.
Summary of Tremlett Grove findings
The actual costs involved are detailed in Appendix 1 on page 27 of the actual LVT ruling
LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12
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Financial Housing ILA Information Islington LBI Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges Website

Dispatches – C4 TV reports Tremlett Grove Leaseholders overcharged by Islington Council

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

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

Court Refuse Islington Council Appeal; Watch Dispatches, Channel 4 TV

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)

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Financial Housing Information Lands Tribunal Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Tribunal Tells Managing Agent: Be Reasonable, They Can’t Afford To Pay

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


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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Meetings PFI Service Charges

Capital Programme Update – Quarter 4

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)

Download
Consultative Panel Reports – May 2012

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Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Audit of Islington Council Accounts 2011-12

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.

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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

=======================================

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

==========================================

2/

Chair opens monthly meeting 7.30pm

==========================================

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

4/

Questions and answers from leaseholders 8pm-8.30pm

=========================================

5/

Any other business 8.30pm-9pm
=========================================
NP:- Please let other leaseholders know about this meeting especially those who do not have email or tweet / RT this event.thank you.
=========================================

Hosting the meeting:- Dr B.S. Potter Chairman ILA

Follow us on Twitter @ilaorguk
Like us on Face Book http://on.fb.me/mWzios

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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