'An £8k service charge left me unable to pay bills'
Summary
A housing association in Bath, called Curo, raised service charges for some leaseholders to cover necessary maintenance work, including fire safety improvements and new windows. Some residents, like Callum Maddern, faced large bill increases that made it hard to pay their regular expenses, and they are calling for better communication and payment plans.Key Facts
- Callum Maddern’s service charge rose from about £1,300 to over £8,000 per year after buying his flat in 2023.
- The increased charges were to cover urgent fire safety work and window replacements.
- Curo said they do not make a profit from these charges and are trying to help residents prepare for the bills.
- Callum says he struggled to pay the bills, sometimes heating his flat less and taking loans to cover costs.
- Andrew Snee from Curo called the situation a "perfect storm" due to rising living costs, contract prices, and new safety laws.
- Another leaseholder, Ken Pearson, had his sinking fund contributions rise sharply when his building needed a new roof.
- Ken lost a legal challenge against the charge increases but believes the law should require landlords to better prepare residents for big costs.
- Curo says they try to manage sinking funds and charges as well as possible despite financial pressures.
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