Wedhey residents to have meeting with council over £40k plus repair bills
News / Mon 19th Jun 2023 at 08:53am
WEDHEY residents are set to have emergency talks with Harlow Council over projected repair bills in excess of £40,000.
Harlow Council has sent the leaseholders of flats in the area detailed letters explaining all the work that needs to be done to the flats, some of which are over sixty years old.
Wedhey is just off Haydns Road near the town centre.
Like homeowners from Five Acres, Potters Field and The Hides, the bills have come like a bolt from the blue.
Many do not know where they are going to find over £40,000 even if there is a payment plan.
The meeting is set for Thursday June 29th at the civic offices
Local ward councillor Chris Vince said: “As ward councillor for Little Parndon and Hare Street, I am very concerned by the letters received by residents of Wedhey flats which show a potentially huge cost to lease holders for upcoming major works.
“No one would argue that repair and fire safety works are needed but I am concerned it appears decisions have been made before the residents meeting.
“I have personally met with some of the residents of Wedhey effected as well as the chief exec of the council on this matter and hope Harlow Council will recognises the challenges that residents of Harlow face during the cost of living crisis and do everything that they can to bring down the cost of these major works for them”.
John Hall
2023-06-19 15:17:07
Harlow Council are once again showing a total disregard for a measured and reasonable approach to the maintenance of leasehold properties. Their cavalier attitude is absolutely appalling and they need to appreciate the devastating effect that these exorbitant and unjustified repair bills are having on their long suffering leaseholders.
S Mann
2023-06-19 16:44:14
They done it to the residents in Abbotsweld some years ago (when it was a Labour Council). Meetings were pointless as their minds were already made up. Make sure you get a list of works to be carried out and check when completed as I queried quite a few things that we were charged for but work wasn't done and after a lot if emails etc had my bill reduced by quite a substantial sum.
David
2023-06-19 16:55:10
John Hall, harlow council is a total sham, they really have no compassion, they just sit up there in their ivory tower sending out letters with no interest on the impact they have on joe normal!!
Z Cheema
2023-06-19 17:00:16
Being on of those leaseholders, i agree with S Mann & John Hull. The first question I asked when they started over two years ago, what's the budget and how much will those cost. The reply was basically it costs what it costs & his behind legalities , but not to worry they payment plans. No real consultation, either. The original paperwork when (2015) purchased had most of those items to be done over time, but came to about £5k, which i expected, with a bit for inflation., but never £46k
Zulqar Cheema
2023-06-19 17:03:10
Apologies for the gammer. Being on of those leaseholders, i agree with S Mann & John Hull. The first question I asked when they started over two years ago, what's the budget and how much will this cost. The reply was basically it costs what it costs & hid behind legalities , but not to worry they have payment plans. No real consultation, either. The original paperwork when (2015) purchased had most of those items to be done over time, but came to about £5k, which i expected, with a bit for inflation., but never £46k. Just what you as you retire.
Guy Flegman
2023-06-19 17:56:23
Note to self. Never buy leasehold property. You get all the negatives of home ownership and none of the positives
Alex
2023-06-20 04:46:29
They did the same to us some years ago in Pennymead for 10k and would not provide any justification or breakdown of what was being done, totally unreasonable that they have worked it out to be that much that’s what we have to pay, everything should have been made available to view,
Terry Kirkby
2023-06-20 08:41:39
O dear what an earth is going on here! £40,000 who's got that! in their pocket? I mean lets face it Harlow Council along with Highways cannot find monies to fix the damn roads let alone how can they expect residents to find the monies ! The whole town is messed up !just a thought why don't Harlow council use some of the funds from the town centre big sell off to sort these repairs out! or even speak with the huge building companies that are getting contracts from Harlow council to help sort out the repairs im sure if there is a huge contract for build going they will assist in repairing some worn out drains which by the way should have been repaired by the council years ago!
Simon Freeman
2023-06-20 11:06:49
Cheaper to knock it down and rebuild . Where do they get these prices from . Backhanders anyone ?
kl
2023-06-20 17:24:44
Its not clear from the article whether that is £40k per leaseholder or £40k shared between leaseholders? There must be around 24+ homes there, so that would be a huge difference.
Simon Freeman
2023-06-21 03:55:43
Its per leaseholder .
Tony
2023-06-22 12:24:43
I am affected with current works in Joyners Field. Will cut a long story short and advise as others have, 1 Check work, council tried to charge significant amount when work not completed. Council argued and fought but lost bill now represents work carried out. DO NOT ACCEPT BILL IF YOU NO ITS WRONG GET BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS GET FULL DETAILED LIST OF WORK AND CHECK IT OFF. previous contracters as example charged me for removing bathroom wall and replacing it. Council added it to bill BUT WORK NEVER DONE BE INTRUSIVE, RECORD WORK ENSURE FULL DETAILED LIST OF PLANNED WORK AND CARRIED OUT WORK SUPPLIED BEFORE START. Council struggle to manage these projects effecticly so check and check again. Get together as a group to challenge council with one voice, it will be important if you have issues to challenge council as a group rather than individual. Good luck
Jeff
2023-06-27 10:13:30
Tony, I am a resident of the flats at Joyners field and I am facing a huge bill related to the re-cladding and associated works . Is it possible to get your details or can we form a group to discuss this?
13 Comments for Wedhey residents to have meeting with council over £40k plus repair bills: