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Hi,
Would be grateful for any advice on housing associations adding service charges when we have never had to pay any before
They tried adding charges last year but when we disputed it they said it was a mistake and eventually the three months were refunded.
The same has happened this year, they have added ground maintenance and a management fee as service charges. We called to dispute the charges and the service desks response was 'well it isn't much' as if they can overcharge as long as it's a small amount. She then spoke to someone in accounts who agreed a mistake again. Now we have received a letter saying that the charge is correct and that we should have paid last year, but they are not expecting us to pay last years. The fees for grounds maintenance are apparently for a green area in our street. This green area is part of a walkthrough and is accessible by anyone, not just this street. Apparently the charge is shared with the entire street but only half the street is owned by this housing association, some are other associations and some privately owned. Can they add extra charges like this
For clarity we have lived here 8 years since exchanging with another tenant. We took on their assured tenancy and the paper work does not list any service charges at all but there is a section that mentions increases can be made with 28 days notice. We have disputed our rent in the past, when they increased the rent within a month of us moving in with no increase letter. It took us two years to get it sorted and we agreed to change our rent increases from April, which is stated in our tenancy, to July to match other tenancies. We did not agree to any other changes and have not received any new tenancy agreement since, so assume everything we have in writing stands.
Thanks for your help
Would be grateful for any advice on housing associations adding service charges when we have never had to pay any before
They tried adding charges last year but when we disputed it they said it was a mistake and eventually the three months were refunded.
The same has happened this year, they have added ground maintenance and a management fee as service charges. We called to dispute the charges and the service desks response was 'well it isn't much' as if they can overcharge as long as it's a small amount. She then spoke to someone in accounts who agreed a mistake again. Now we have received a letter saying that the charge is correct and that we should have paid last year, but they are not expecting us to pay last years. The fees for grounds maintenance are apparently for a green area in our street. This green area is part of a walkthrough and is accessible by anyone, not just this street. Apparently the charge is shared with the entire street but only half the street is owned by this housing association, some are other associations and some privately owned. Can they add extra charges like this
For clarity we have lived here 8 years since exchanging with another tenant. We took on their assured tenancy and the paper work does not list any service charges at all but there is a section that mentions increases can be made with 28 days notice. We have disputed our rent in the past, when they increased the rent within a month of us moving in with no increase letter. It took us two years to get it sorted and we agreed to change our rent increases from April, which is stated in our tenancy, to July to match other tenancies. We did not agree to any other changes and have not received any new tenancy agreement since, so assume everything we have in writing stands.
Thanks for your help
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