Council block leaseholders forced to pay £18,000 for fire safety works after paying £8,000 for similar work before
Leaseholders of a council tower block are having to pay more than £18,000 for fire safety works – despite having paid about £8,000 for similar works ten years ago.
Columbia Point on the Canada Estate is currently undergoing major works to replace windows and improve fire safety.
But the block also underwent fire safety works in 2011 to 2012.
Michael Robertson, 52, who lives in the building, said: “They did major fire safety works to the block. They changed stairwell doors and what’s called fire ventilation and now they want to redo it all, and obviously the residents are saying well why did you sign it off before?”
Residents are also unhappy about the way the works have been handled and say the council have not been communicating with them well.
Mr Robertson said: “There’s a real disenfranchised air of discontent with the residents of the Canada Estate, especially with the two tower blocks.
“All residents – council tenants, renters and leaseholders – are confused and frustrated as communication from the council has not been good.
“The onsite contractors have been excellent, polite and very hard working, but they have not been updated with new news updates either from the council.”
In February 2010, the London Fire Brigade issued Southwark council with a formal notification of problems with fire safety on the estate, and a deadline by which they had to be fixed.
Works to remedy these issues were completed in 2012.
But residents are questioning why more fire safety works have to be done so soon after the previous ones.
Cllr Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council housing, said: “Southwark council always follows current safety guidelines, adapting to new requirements if needed as part of a rigorous fire risk and safety programme, working closely with London Fire Brigade.
“Sometimes, as part of that continuous assessment of risk and associated works programmes, extra works are required or the guidance from the government changes, meaning we have to do more to keep people safe – this can mean retrofitting or updating work.
“As a condition of their lease, leaseholders contribute to any costs for works to the communal parts of their building, which are first estimated, then updated when true costs are reflected in the final bill.”
Pictured top: Columbia Point leaseholders Lyn Hanrahan and Edmund Simpson
These stories on leaseholders facing big major works charges in Southwark seem to loop. But leaseholders seem slow to learn, starting from scratch each time.
The best practice for leaseholders is always the same – join forces quickly, raise money for a housing solicitor and surveyor.
You can’t achieve anything without the right experts and professionals. Southwark will not change position because of grievances expressed in an article in London News or Southwark Press.
At least some of these works may be contestable. The Southwark lease contains no ‘competent authority’ clause (to charge for something if the Fire Brigade says to do it), no ‘sweeper’ clause and no clause for ‘fire improvements’. But the council will ‘force’ you to pay unless you force them to change position.