Published: 3 February, 2012
by JOSH LOEB

LEASEHOLDERS on the Hallfield estate in Bayswater say they may take legal action against the council’s housing managers CityWest Homes to stop the organisation from billing them for what they fear will be overpriced repair works to their homes.

Retired cab driver Mark Spence, who has lived on the Grade II-listed estate with his wife Barbara for 45 years, claimed Westminster Council had not properly maintained the buildings over time, meaning the cost of work to fit new windows was more than it should be.

Mr Spence said: “CityWest want each flat to pay around £35,000 and for the work to start in March but there has been a lack of proper communication from them. If we are unhappy with the amount of money they are charging we could get residents together and go to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.” The LVT adjudicates on disputes between leaseholders and councils.

CityWest said it expected the maximum cost of the works would be £43,000 per flat but that most leaseholders would be paying £18,651.

Engineer Nasser Abbasi, who has lived on the estate for six years, said: “We are scared we are going to be hit with demands for tens of thousands of pounds and we really can’t afford that kind of expense.”

Dave Harrison, CityWest Homes’ director of property and development, said: “We are carrying out a programme of improvement works to upgrade the standard, quality and sustainability of the homes on Hallfield estate.

“The cost of the works will include repairs to concrete, brickwork, balconies and joinery, replacing wall tiles, decorating outdoor areas, communal staircases and walkways, and replacing windows.

“Hallfield residents have been consulted about the work through regular newsletters and meetings since 2008. When a number of residents wanted to explore becoming a tenant management organisation (TMO) in that year, they asked us to suspend work until the TMO was formed.

Residents then decided in late 2009 they did not want to become a TMO and consultation on the work resumed in January 2010. A residents’ steering group, which includes many leaseholders, continues to work with us on the scheme.

“We understand leaseholders’ concerns about their ability to pay these bills, especially given the current economic climate.  We are holding surgeries to give residents the opportunity to talk through our range of payment options, including signposting to expert debt advisers. We also hope to enhance our payment options to offer extended interest-free payments.”