Forum Topic

Increase Service Charge

I have received a letter from the Director of housing of Hounslow to inform me of a .90p a week increase in my service charge for (I quote)To cover the cost of disposal of an increasing amount of waste that is being dumped in the communal areas on our estates.(un quote).I am now being charge to clear away rubbish that is dumped solely based on the councils new waste collection service. Is this fair? No it is not. Since the new system started I've sent e-mail's filled in forms on line to point out whats wrong and not one reply. No use phoning useless. My service charge for cleaning/caretaking is now £6.55 a week. If the caretaker is off no cleaning as the supervisor says "I have no money for cover". But I am still charged the full amount as are all my neighbours.thirteen times last year no service and three this year already. Guess what? No reply for my request for a rebate. Time to get my councillor working, May is coming soon.

David Squire ● 2725d7 Comments

I too live on Haverfield and like you have noted when no service which was 12 times last year and 3 since the new year. I have had no answer from Hounslow since my first e-mail on 16th Nov '17. I was informed by a caretaker (Not one of mine) that there is no budget for cover in Brentford & Chiswick. Rest of Hounslow yes. But the charge is still taken. We used to have two caretakers walking about carrying nothing now we have three.

David Squire ● 2718d

We live in one of the walks on the Haverfield. Our service charge has also risen.We have a log to show when the caretaker has been and cleaned - last attended on 17th Feb - supposed to be a weekly thing.The large green bins for recycling left outside our block are used by people from all over the area. Resulting in piles of rubbish and unwanted large items left on the ground around the bins. Yet we have to pay for this extra work needed to clear it ??In reply the post about encouraging more communal ways of disposing - we regularly get letters from the council informing us of what to do with large items. It doesn't stop people from all over the area dumping things by us though.We also have a charge for heating - quite what we are heating through this charge i have no idea - as we pay for our own household heating via gas/electricity.We pay towards a digital ariel - ours goes down whenever the weather is wet - at least 8 times in 2 years i have had to report that - each time advising better insulation of the outdoor box. When the ariel goes so does the commuunal lighting by the way.

Martin Webb ● 2719d

Iain. I take on board your comments. Yes the £6 charge is only part of my weekly amount but way down on yours. I have to admit my point was not paying 60p extra but I am so upset having been told I am to pay for anti social people and fly tippers. I live on an estate of 450 units all pay the service charge we are covered by dozens of CCTV cameras.Tongue in cheek for my councillors who have offered to look into this.

David Squire ● 2721d

The use of online shopping has greatly increased the amount of packaging waste.  Amazon have a feed back system so that you can complain if you have received something wrapped excessively. I suspect only a small proportion of people bother to do this  Whether this does any good I can't say.  We have packaging regulations and there is supposed to be Producer Responsibility. We need stronger legislation on this because it isn't working as well as it could be.I received two packages from one organisation after Christmas on the same day - ordered together but  delivered separately.  The first came in a plastic bag. The second of the two came in a 12in x 6in x 3in cardboard box containing 3ft x 3andahalf ft of bubblewrap and the items ordered - two small pairs of socks.  These could have been put through the letterbox had they been in an envelope but presumably using the carrier meant that they needed or felt they needed a box.What is your estate doing to help each other mend items/find menders, sell unwanted furniture and other items together with advising people on how to deal with unwanted bulky items?  Now that things are bought on credit they often don't suit the purpose for which they are bought or just aren't necessary. Freecycle and Facebook and Nextdoor can be good for finding new homes for things that you don't want.

Philippa Bond ● 2722d

David, I presume the £6 odd a week is only part of your service charge? I do not know how many properties are covered in the calculation but as a comparison I live in a small development of 14 homes, houses and flats. Residents own the freehold and our resident directors employ managing agents who employ contractors. Our service charge is split, as flat owners have additional costs, decorating, staircase cleaning and sinking fund etc. Houses pay less, even so my charge, for a house increased by abt £120 this year to £930. That is for gardening, electric gate maintenance, insurance, management fee and a small sinking fund for road/pavements etc. We get a very good service from the contractors. Lack of response to your complaints is not acceptable but having an issue with a weekly increase of 90p on this cost does not appear to me as an issue in the May elections! PS I used to manage service charges for Housing Associations, its an Art, not a Science!

Iain Muir ● 2723d

I met someone this morning whose service charge (from a housing association) is proposed to increase from £25 to £56 per week, which was quite a shock. I believe David was meeting with Cllr Collins this morning.

Guy Lambert ● 2723d

"Time to get my councillor working!You ARE having a laugh aren't you?

Steve Taylor ● 2724d