Tenants to face service charges under shake-up

Durden Mews First Choice Homes flats in Shaw.

FIRST Choice Homes Oldham have completed a consultation on maintenance charges in communal areas of flats following a rent reduction by the government.

They held the 12 consultation events from July 4 to August 4 across Oldham after they found themselves unable to absorb the costs of communal maintenance after the government's summer budget announced a one per cent rent reduction each year for the next four years.

Some 436 people attended the consultations where they heard the proposed charges ­- which apply to communal facilities outside flats ­- would be phased in over three years from autumn 2016 and will range from 86p to £10 a week depending on the maintenance required and would contribute to the cost of lighting, cleaning, CCTV cameras and the grounds upkeep.

They would be offset by the one per cent rent reduction this year and for the next three years and should be covered by housing benefit and by those in receipt of universal credit.

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) maintained that the charges were required and also fairer for all customers.

Dave Smith, FCHO customer first director, said: "These proposed charges are to help meet the cost of providing additional maintenance services which apply to communal facilities and areas outside flats ­- such as the lighting and cleaning of stairwells, corridors and decks and the maintenance of communal gardens and land.

"The rent reduction means that we can no longer afford to continue to provide these services without charging.

"These are services not provided to many of our customers in bungalows and houses so charging those in flats is fairer for all our customers.

"We sent letters to each customer potentially affected and posted all of the information regarding the proposed charges on our website; including details of consultation sessions which ran from July 4 to August 4and an up-to-date frequently asked questions factsheet."

A summary of the consultation will be given to the board at the end of August where a final decision on whether to introduce the charges will be made with affected customers informed in September.

Information about the proposals is still available at fcho.co.uk.