Unexpected Charges For Sheltered Housing

[jaimiep]

Hi, a relative that pays rent for sheltered housing has been told that due to some additional works to the whole building her rent will increase - not everyone pays rent. This she/we would expect to be part of the service charge that everyone pays. I'm still slightly unclear on the work until we visit later in the week but does anyone have experience of this type of thing? It seems wrong to only charge those that do not receive any benefits.

Thanks in advance.

[Countdown]

By sheltered housing do you mean there are some services provided such as warden / carelink etc?

The rent shouldn't increase for a one-off repair (AFAIK). Normally the shared costs of a block of flats are calculated annually and divided up between all the tenants in the form of the Service Charge. One-off major repairs are also divided up and charged separately to the rent/service charge.

The benefits issue is no different to any other comparison between private tenant / benefits tenant. Private tenant pays his/her own rent, tenant on benefits has rent paid for them. Similarly private tenant will contribute into a sinking fund, benefits tenant will have this paid for them.

[jaimiep]

Thanks for the reply Countdown it is as you mention Carelink etc. It would appear from further discussions that the additional charge has been added to the service charge but only of tenants that pay privately. The work is for automated fire doors through the hall ways. There is no dispute about the work although it was not discussed with residents, just that the private residents feel it is unfair that they need to fund it for the benefit of all.

[Countdown]

JamieP -

I'm not an expert in this matter but, AIUI, Service Charges can't be used for collecting the costs of major repairs, only "routine repairs". There is a separate mechanism used for the Landlord/Managing Agent to recoup the cost of major repairs and also a consultation process that they have to go through beforehand.

There's some guidance here which may help.

http://www.croydon.gov.uk/contents/departments/hou...

[jaimiep]

Thanks Countdown, will have a good look later on.

[Steffan]

Countdown said:

JamieP -

I'm not an expert in this matter but, AIUI, Service Charges can't be used for collecting the costs of major repairs, only "routine repairs". There is a separate mechanism used for the Landlord/Managing Agent to recoup the cost of major repairs and also a consultation process that they have to go through beforehand.

There's some guidance here which may help.

http://www.croydon.gov.uk/contents/departments/hou...

You may not be an expert but you are entirely correct on this matter. I would suggest the OP initially utilises one of the many websites which attempt to investigate and expose the many service charge anomalies that landlords sometimes attempt to enviegle out of unsuspecting tenants. This sounds an unsupportable premise to me if properly exposed for what it is. I doubt that the fundamental requirement of equitable treatment by any business of all tenants will not recognise differential treatment relating to the source of the payments being made.

Best of luck to the OP.