You may have recently seen letters from various Leaseholders in the press…explaining how they are being forced to sell up, due to the outrageous charges levied by Islington Council.
It would appear the council are (probably) trying to force existing leaseholder out of the homes they’ve lived in for many years, (apparently, according to a recent FOI* request) Islington Council are currently under pressure to supply homes for short term accommodation and are “Encouraging” Leaseholders to sell back their homes by issuing outrageous bills, in order to fulfil this obligation, and provide the council with a massive cash windful…to assist repayment of the £85,000,000 dept they have incurred rather than cut back on their idiotic vanity projects…
We will printing some of these Leaseholder letters over the following weeks & months, starting with those below.
Letter 1
BeggarsBelief.
I’ve been a leaseholder in my much-loved home in Islington for over 30 years. Like many leaseholders who are very vociferous regarding Extortionate Bills and Gross overcharging for Cyclic/Major/Services Charges works. I too, was shell shocked, when the council recently issued me with an estimated s20 for fire safety works totalling £31,000, (revised ) to £18,000, after negotiations, assisted by the Islington Leaseholders Association, Which I now attend monthly, and I am deeply grateful for the independent advice and support that it provides me.
These unreasonably, over-specified works, are having a massive impact on my mental health, and consequently, I live in a state of constant anxiety and fear until the post arrives, dreading further demands from a council totally lacking in any form of Transparency/Accountability/Fairness/Quality.
This situation surely begs the question— why are those who pay their way, being deliberately targeted, to the point where they’re being forced to move out of the borough altogether. With many leaseholders now facing bills of between £60,000 — £80,000, Where in lies the sense of this short-term gain…it really beggars belief. If high paying leaseholders are forced out—who foots the bill to pay essential financial contributions into the council coffers— Who will fill the black hole due to the years of mismanagement, and irresponsible spending/borrowing, That directly affects all residents?
Sadly, Islington Council has been suffocating under a vast Labour majority since 2010, and it shows—just how badly a borough can fall behind, due primarily, to a total lack of effective OPPOSITION.
There are over 11 thousand leaseholders in Islington,(1/3 of council housing), whose financial contribution is crucial to the future of Islington residents.
Surly WE, the Electorate should have a say on important decisions effecting our daily quality of life.
Carol Louvet
Address supplied
*FOI ref 6457811: