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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 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

 
 

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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.

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
ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works

Resident improvement task force – Leaseholders may be excluded from key posts confirms Cllr James Murray

James Murray ( head housing honcho @ Islington Council) yesterday confirmed that although there would be 4 or 5  councillors advising him as part of the new housing consultation process, he would not confirm that any of them would be Leaseholders.

…unfortunately seems like more  anti-leaseholder politics

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ILA Islington Leaseholders Meetings

next ILA meet Wed 14th March 2012

Islington Leaseholders Meeting
on
Wednesday 14  March 2012
in
Islington Town Hall Chambers
 At
7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting: – Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- Two Legal representatives from the “LEASE” organisation will be attending to answer leaseholders questions.
Please view our website
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…

 

Categories
Financial ILA Information Leaseholders Meetings Service Charges

OCASA Building Insurance – comments on the queries from ILA meeting

BUILDING INSURANCE QUERIES _ILA MEETING_11Jan12 and response from JLTAlison Goodwin from JLT [Jardine Lloyd Thompson Public Sector Risks] who admin OCASA Building Insurance have sent us comments on the queries submitted for the January ILA meeting. The ILA queries and her comments are in the attached document.

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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

Categories
ILA Islington Leaseholders Meetings

ILA monthly meet wed 11.01.2012

Islington Leaseholders Meeting
on
Wednesday 11 Jan 2012
in
Islington Town Hall Chambers
 At
7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting: – Dr Brian Potter

Guest Speakers: – Representatives of the Leaseholders insurers (OCASO) and Representative’s from JLT (Brokers for our insurance policy)…“why has your building insurance gone up drastically”…
Please view our website
Website          
www.ila.org.uk
Twitter            @ilaorguk
Face Book      
http://on.fb.me/mWziosPlease impress upon any other leaseholder’s that you know that it is in their interest to attend these meetings regularly…Dr B. S. Potter ILA Chairman