Web helped us beat lift charge
Your website reported that the Homes and Communities Agency handed out billions in housing grants in 2009 (How the HCA spent £2.8 billion in four months, www.insidehousing.co.uk). Our new landlord, Southern Housing, was reported as receiving £38.4 million.
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Seeing this only added to our annoyance when residents received a bill for a new lift. The old lift seemed fine. The total bill was for more than £81,000. We were to pay the bill over 15 years when another one would be needed. Our average age is about 75 and we have no advisors.
We were asked to make any observations in writing. Uncertain of our liability I challenged what appeared to be a suspicious loan with an inflated interest rate.
We, and previous residents, have paid for deterioration over the past 20 years. Everyone said that we were not liable. The lift was to be part of a bulk purchase ‘to keep costs down’. The lifts were for ‘a number of homes in Hampshire’. The reason given for the replacement was not safety or insurance. We were told that it would save us money on maintenance.
I contacted Citizens Advice who said that we should not pay and telephoned Southern Housing to no avail. I received a letter from Southern Housing to say that I was liable for a share of the bill.
After I saw your website I wrote a second time to Southern Housing, mentioning the £38 million grant. It made a U-turn within 24 hours - we no longer need to have the lift.
Needless to say, I have your website to thank for our change of fortune. What were they worried about? I had written to the HCA and also to the Financial Services Authority. It is only your website that seems to work. Thanks.
R Terry, resident of Southern Housing