Local Authority Leaseholder Service Charge Group

About this group...

@NLC_2019 @NHGhousing @SHAC_Action @mtpennycook @mhclg @LKPleasehold Same old BS "been misappropriated". Councils & management companies use it all the time when they've been caught out at the same time as claiming accounts are audited & certified & invoices are a true representation of costs. When will they ever be taken to task?

💥WE'VE BEEN PAYING FOR A LIFT THAT DOES NOT EXIST💥 @NHGhousing It's a scandal on par with the Post Office scandal @SHAC_Action #LeaseholdScandal "I'm physically and mentally drained" @mtpennycook @mhclg @LKPleasehold bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

@CGE1TRA @lambeth_council @CllrIIssa @FloEshalomi @MrLDaley @LondonTenants @clairekholland @DavidAmosSE11 @survivinglambet @CommonsHCLG @myldn RBK awarded them a £163m contract in 2024 despite Breyer filing accounts in 2023 showing they were £20.1m in debt to contractors yet claim they carried out due diligence. Sounds more like gross negligence and mismanagement to me. Big question, did they make upfront payments?

1/4 ℹ️ 🚨@Lambeth_Council, with Breyer Group Ltd entering administration on 12 April 2025, residents are concerned about outstanding works. What contingency plans are in place to ensure completion of projects & maintenance on #CottonGardensEstate? #BreyerGroup #Maladministration

@NLC_2019 @alistrathern We were charged for emptying of a cesspit, when I queried it, was told they have to put charge under some title. I suggested they put it for what they were invoiced for. Couldn't produce an invoice so had to credit the charge back. They call it an error but its theft!

Happens with Estate Management Charges too. A resident questioned the invoice. He was being charged for the upkeep of a park...... he rang 📱 to ask them about it and was told he has to contribute to the parks...... Problem was there wasn't a park 🤔 ‼️ @alistrathern

Another farce for @RBKingston. I wouldn't trust them to organise a piss up in a brewery!

@GuildhallInsid1 RBK say they had no prior warning yet awarded a £163m contract in 2024 to a company £20m in debt in May 2023. Wasn't that a red flag? Same people making decisions who demolished Kingfisher with no idea how much it was going to cost to rebuild Gross Incompetence for all to see!

Kingston Council's so called due diligence doesn't even include a quick check of accounts at Companies House. Result - appointing a company £20 million in debt: web.archive.org/web/2025040911…

@GuildhallInsid1 The due diligence didn't even extend to knowing who the sub contractors they were going to use were. Any idea if RBK made any upfront payment?

@katesineed @LKPleasehold It wouldn't if LA could actually produce legitimate invoices rather than made up charges for non-existent work. Hard to take someone to Court based on fictitious charges. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to do it unless they have funds to pay what's owed to hand.

@LALSCG @LKPleasehold I wonder if this approach only works as ultimately it's a public body? A very different story if private freeholder and non-LA (direct or LA contracted 3rd party) managing agent?

Yet another leaseholder cluelessly fighting service charges by withholding payment. £4k legal fees demanded (so far) and heading for court. How many times do we say: Pay first, fight second.

@LKPleasehold Unfortunately the Council even say the Housing Ombudsman doesn't know what they are talking about. When you are up against that attitude, there is no alternative than withhold payment. I can assure the £1000's I've had back in credits would never have happened if they had my cash

@LALSCG Curious case. But what if you wanted to sell?

@LKPleasehold I could pay the full amount tomorrow if I wanted. Like I said, the full outstanding amount is in a dedicated bank account and if I did get taken to court, I would simply show the judge and then present him with around 300 emails that would make very interesting reading for them.

@LKPleasehold But they said no. They won't take me to court as know I have proof of overcharging, mismanagement & fraud & it will all enter the public domain and could end up literally costing them seven figure refunds Borough wide. So it just goes on and on as nobody tries to resolve it!

@LKPleasehold I haven't paid charges for over 7yrs. Money credited back cleared the 1st 3 years. Have all the money in a dedicated bank account. Council put in am email that they understand me not paying while issues haven't been sorted. I even offered to put full amount in Escrow Account...

@GuildhallInsid1 Probably worried that their total incompetence, massive waste of public money, and potential fraud will be uncovered for all to see. You could merge Kingston Council with a circus and it would be better run!

Worried faces in the Guildhall today as it looks like Labour's local government reforms to be announced on Monday will see the minimum size of councils set at 500,000 and RBK set to be merged with its neighbours. Wait for the rush for plumb jobs and councillor allowances.

@GuildhallInsid1 Can think of one who should definitely go but with @EdwardJDavey doing his ostrich impression, not likely to be Kirsch

Are the Lib Dems about to lose a councillor?

@PeterStefanovi2 @TheBMA True story. My daughter, 40wks pregnant had to sign up to a new practice last. The 'GP' she saw raised concerns about weight gain & asked if she knew what may be the cause? Lost for words, "I'm pregnant" & was asked "when baby was due?" When she said 3 days he said oh I see 🥺🤠

🚨13,000 doctors have added their names to a letter warning of the profession's 'grave concern' over the use of medical associate professions in the NHS & it’s risk to patient safety 🚨@TheBMA has called on new Health Secretary Wes Streeting to stop the dangerous substitution of doctors & is taking legal action against the doctors’ regulator - the GMC over the way in which it plans to regulate physician associates - plans which the union says will mean a dangerous blurring of lines for patients between 'highly-skilled & experienced' doctors & assistant roles 🚨 the Royal College of G P’s has also called for a halt to the recruitment of Physician associates in general practice following a consultation with over 5,000 GP’s. The college says its survey found more than 80% believe the use of Physician associates in general practices has a negative impact on patient safety. The ‘disturbing' results also showed half of respondents reported 'being aware of specific examples of patient safety being compromised by the work of Physician associates, including instances of misdiagnosis & inappropriate prescribing 🚨the Department of Health & Social Care’s project to rapidly expand medical associate professions has left many doctors aghast. The plan itself has been described as one of the most singularly dishonest, duplicitous & downright reckless political responses to the NHS workforce crisis This is a patient safety disaster in the making @wesstreeting and needs to be resolved urgently

@TomJGarry & with more PL Clubs struggling to meet sustainability rules more will look at the women's side of their club. There are no top WSL sides that would last a fortnight if the owners stopped funding. Its not right or good but as it stands the women's teams will always be the ...

We understand Reading have requested to withdraw from the Women's Championship. It'll take time for that to be formally ratified, so don't expect imminent 'announcements', but staff, players and fans are all devastated. This story will be updated shortly. theguardian.com/football/artic…

@Scoredrawretro hi could you follow me as I need to order 50+ shirts

@AnneKearns17 They took the money from the HRA which it appears is them using it as a slush fund to pay for their total incompetence and so it doesn't show up. Is that legal?

@LALSCG Whats the question?

Does anybody in this group understand the rules regarding a Councils HRA and also anybody with legal expertise in Leases and Leasehold Service Charges. Need some help.

@AnneKearns17 Regarding HRA I made the Council aware in 2013 that there was a massive issue with the Communal Electric Charges. They refused to act for 9yrs & then discovered storage heaters were still connected. That cost over £22k through their gross negligence. They repaid Leaseholders 1/2