Forum Topic

Question for Leaseholders in Acton blocks

Looking for advice from any fellow leaseholders of properties within a council owned block in Acton. Ealing Borough, as our freeholder, have been absolutely terrible with the maintenance of the block in which I live. Despite charging us full service charges, they regularly ignore emails for repair requests, or book repairs quite late. We have an ongoing issue with the communal bins not being emptied for weeks and weeks on end (currently going on 8 weeks on one bin...according to the dustmen it is "contaminated"). One of our communal bins was involved in the recent arson attacks, and a fence burned down, and no one has been in touch. And our communal gardens have not been maintained in over a year. Grass has been cut, but the hedges and plants are wildly over grown. Rubbish regularly blows around the grounds. What are we paying for?! In following up my emails of complaint to the various council departments, I was told that some blocks in Ealing have moved their cleaning, garden and waste providers to an external firm. Just wondering if anyone here lives in one of these blocks, and has any advice on how this was accomplished?  Quite embarrassed to have people around, and it is so frustrating. Thanks

Tricia Howey ● 3481d9 Comments

I'm sure you'll find someone in the ECLA who'll take an interest in the problems on your estate and suggest where pressure can be brought to bear. At leaseholder meetings I've been to in Hammersmith, representatives of the council and their subcontractors are usually obliged to come and justify their actions but there are always complaints from desperate people about poor services.  But there's also plenty of 'see me after the meeting and give me the details', and things usually get fixed pretty quickly once the bosses get involved.

Peter Evans ● 3475d

Thanks very much for your suggestion, Peter. Unfortunately I could not attend the meeting however I will look to get in touch with ECLA and the Leasehold Advisory Service. You're certainly right, it does seem reminding is in order!

Tricia Howey ● 3475d

Of course local councils should provide an equally high standard of service to all its tenants, but when standards slip, it's useful for leaseholders to remind their local authority that they have a particular legal relationship which means that work should be done properly as and when required, and they have legal remedies if it isn't. Unfortunately rental tenants don't have the same legal clout.

Peter Evans ● 3479d

Peter - thanks for this. Not sure why leaseholders services "might need to be of a higher standard" though - surely they should ALL be of a good standard? As a tenant myself in social housing I don't like to think I deserve a worse service!

Chris Hurley ● 3479d

As luck would have it, Tricia, you can go to tonight's meeting of the Ealing Council Leaseholder Association (ECLA) - that's Wednesday 19 October 2016, 7pm-9pm, in the Liz Cantell room, Ealing Town Hall - where you can mention your problem either formally at the meeting or informally with the council representatives who'll be there.  The Ealing Council website explains that: 'The ECLA Forum gives leaseholders, whose landlord is the London Borough of Ealing, the opportunity to meet with ECLA committee members and Ealing Council staff, view presentations and discuss various topics of interest and concern. It gives leaseholders the opportunity to discover more about the services that are provided and the issues that affect them. In turn, the forum provides the ECLA Committee and Ealing Council with feedback and suggestions for improvement. All leaseholders are encouraged to participate.' Local councils often need reminding that they have a particular contractual and legal obligation to their leaseholders through their leases, to provide a timely and effective service, which might need to be of a higher standard than the service they provide to their rental tenants.

Peter Evans ● 3479d

Hi Jan, no not yet. Relatively new to the area (1.5 years), so haven't investigated yet who that would be. So far have tried the council contacts we have in our leaseholders contract, and it's 50/50 on whether we get a response. And if we do, it's so slow! Do you think we would have better luck getting our Councillor involved?  Thanks

Tricia Howey ● 3479d

Hi Tricia. Have you tried getting your Councillor to help?

Jan Farlow ● 3480d

Hi Bob, no I'm not. I'm up on Lynton Road by Acton Mainline.

Tricia Howey ● 3481d

Hi Tricia, Is your block in the South Acton Estate and if so, are you in a new build or one of the old ones awaiting demolition?

Bob Little ● 3481d