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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

Categories
Housing ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Meetings

ILA Meet Wed 12.9.12

Islington Leaseholders Meeting

on
Wednesday 12 September 2012
in    Islington Town Hall Chambers
 
at     7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting:- Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- A local surveyor advising on Lease Extensions
Website          www.ila.org.uk
Twitter            @ilaorguk
Face Book      http://on.fb.me/mWzios
Please impress upon any other leaseholder’s that you know that it is in their interest to attend these meetings regularly…
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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Meetings

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
Website          www.ila.org.uk
Twitter            @ilaorguk
Face Book      http://on.fb.me/mWzios
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.


Categories
ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Meetings

ILA monthly meet 11.07.12

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
Please let other leaseholders know of this meeting or fw emails or tweet / RT this event.
Categories
ILA Information Islington LBI Leaseholders

Potter rubbishes powerless “Housing Executive”

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)
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Categories
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

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Categories
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.
Categories
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

 
 

Categories
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.

 

Categories
Financial ILA Information Islington Meetings

Leaseholders left out of important meeting

“Leaseholders left out from this very important meeting” The GLA Planning & Housing Committee (who were investigating this issue) person responsible is Steve O’Connell and the “invited guests” to the Meeting of 23rd January 2012 were: 1) Martin Green, Head of Home Ownership & Tenant Management Initiatives, Southwark Council 2) Randall Bevis, Head of Home Ownership, Cith West Homes 3) Matthew Saye, Assistant Director – Home Ownership Services, One Housing Group 4) David Hewett, former Chief Executive, Association of Residential Managing Agents 5) Bob Suvan, Managing Director, BlocNet – BlocNet is a managing agent: Bob Suvan spoke at the last CARL AGM (see attached) where he gave a huge amount of how Leaseholders are being ripped off. The Greater London Assembly [GLA] is undertaking a Review of Leaseholder Service Charges. We have requested involvement and early notice of any public meetings, and have not received formal acknowledgement so far. At very short notice, on the day of the meeting, we were informed that a public meeting to discuss the review was taking place. The meeting was held on Monday the 23rd of January 2012, at 2.00 p.m, and only one representative for the ILA was able to be present in the public gallery. A copy of the list of issues submitted by a director of the ILA is attached. One example, relevant to points 1,2,3, 4 and 5 of the list, is that, during the major works programs, key individuals involved in running the various contracts are moved to other duties at key stages. New staff are brought in, without any continuity. This disrupts and undermines proper contract management, leads to inconsistency in client decision making, and leaves the contractor in charge of the works and the costs. The contractors in turn give insufficient supervision and instruction. All of this can lead to defects and higher costs. As there was insufficient notice of this public meeting, leaseholders would like an opportunity to put their case at a further meeting, to have a dialogue with the politicians in charge of the review directly. Please view the two attachments and link for further information about the issues discussed at the meeting on the 23rd of January: GLA Jan 12 Meeting Papers.pdf HC GLA list.docx A copy of the list of issues submitted by a director of the ILA. Please view the link. The meeting was webcast live and a recording was posted on the website. A full transcript of the meeting will also be available on the Committee’s web page here: http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/assembly_investigation/service-charges All leaseholder’s who agree please send via email a request to “Paul Watling” paul.watling@london.gov.uk and the Chair of the Review, Cllr. Steve O’Connell, steve.o’connell@london.gov.uk, stating that because of the insufficient notice, leaseholders request that a further meeting is held, and in the meantime, would request that we are told how leaseholders views will be taken into account. The summary questions asked at the GLA meeting were insufficient. Please copy in Dr Brian Potter email address “Brian Potter” , and Mary Morris email address “M Morris” , thank you. Dr B.S. Potter Chairman ILA