Categories
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  

Categories
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)

Categories
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


Categories
ILA Information Islington LBI Leaseholders

LEASE presentation on ‘Right to Buy’ Residential Leases

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

 

 

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
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

Categories
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.

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 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.
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

Categories
ILA Islington Meetings

ILA monthly meet Wed. 14 Dec 2011

Islington Leaseholders Monthly Meeting is

Wednesday 14 December 2011

 

Islington Town Hall Chambers

time

7pm – 9pm

Hosting the meeting Dr Brian Potter Chairman ILA

Guest Speaker: Two legal representatives from ‘LEASE’
Taking questions and answering leaseholders issues from the floor.

Please tell all leaseholders on your Estates and in Street

properties to attend especially those who do not have email.

Update your memberships here

 

Dr B.S. Potter ILA Chairman

w. ila.org.uk

t. @ilaorguk

f. http://on.fb.me/mWzios