Housing assoc service charges. How to dispute?

[stu007]

Hi

 

The Important thing even if you are emailing on this matter in the Subject Line make sure and put the title as 'FORMAL COMPLAINT' you want them to deal with it as a complaint as they legally have to record it as such on there records.

 

Ask them for a copy of there 'Service Charge Policy' (not a leaflet) you want the Policy. (when you get it slowly read and just ask yourself 'did they do that' if not mark it to using back at them).

 

Ask them for a copy/breakdown of when the cleaning company is meant to do this work in the communal areas and exactly what they are meant to do. (the HA will know exactly what they are meant to do.

 

As above with the Landscaping ask them the exact same.

 

What I would also suggest is wait to see how they deal with this then send your Housing Association a GDPR SAR check there website as a form for it may be available there.

 

What you now also need to do is you and the other tenants affected by these charges from communal cleaning to landscaping keep a written record of when the have or haven't been done and report it. (difficulty is you need to know when they are meant to carry out this work so ask for a breakdown).

 

Keep a physical written log of everything you want to keep a good paper trail.

[stu007]

King 12345

 

Sorry but I stand by everything in my post as they should be going through the HA Complaints procedure on these Service Charges so that it is logged and when they get the final outcome if still not happy then off to the Housing Ombudsman. (yes the ombudsman can be hit or miss but before even considering sending an LBA I would still go through the HA Complaint Procedure till the final outcome letter and then only consider an LBA as they would have evidence that they tried to resolve this before issuing that letter)

 

They need evidence as you have previously stated and I fully agree with as without evidence this will be difficult to challenge. (why i mention what they should ask for and also to keep a record and when these works are meant to be done)

 

I also see no mention by the OP of a Management Company only your assumption. (the HA could be doing there own factoring/Management as mine does)

[stu007]

Hi

 

Read my post#10 and if you haven't done so get a Formal Complaint into them and whats mentioned in the post.

 

When you mention benefit and you not being on any and that you are potentially subsidising the other residents that are on that benefit is actually inaccurate. Why if they were on full Housing Benefit for example that benefit is specifically for Rent it does not include any Service Charges. (the system changed some years ago)

 

i.e. there Tenancy Agreement states Rent - £350, Service Charges with a breakdown of those charges - £50, Total Rent to Housing Association £400

 

If on Full Housing Benefit the Local Authority operating on behalf of DWP will pay a Rent of £350 the service charges are the Tenants responsibility as they are not Rent for the property but service charges. (this is only an example)

[stu007]

Any update on this please