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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 12 October 2007

Action group to oppose £20 ‘illegal’ service lease charges

A NEW Islington action group launched a campaign this week to persuade leaseholders not to pay an annual £20 service charge on the grounds that it is“illegal”.
The Islington Leaseholder Action Group is to make an application to a tribunal panel to halt the charge – which works out at 40p a week being levied by Homes for Islington.
The LAG’s Michael Read said he was against the charge on the grounds that the organisation would have no teeth.
“Levying £20 a year is illegal,” he said, “because there is no provision in our leases for such a charge.
“We would urge leaseholders to refuse to pay this charge. For those who voted in favour of the charge we would urge you to reconsider your position.
“What quality of legal advice do you expect to receive from a proposed service where the principals do not appear to have a basic understanding of the lease, or the basis of their legal relationship with the landlord?”
More than 70 per cent of the borough’s 11,000 leaseholders agreed in a ballot early this year to support the setting up of a new full-time association to deal with residents’ issues such as legal matters, maintenance and repairs.
A ballot is being held by the Electoral Reform Society shortly to vote in a new committee.
The association has the support of the Federation of Islington Tenants.

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