Leaseholder Service Charges - problems paying???
I was reading a report which is to go before Ealing Cabinet on how Council leaseholders may be afforded a wider range of flexible repayment options – a very welcome change for some – so long as it is made public knowledge.Obviously any relaxation of current practice has an impact on the local public purse.(Leaving aside that many cabinet papers do not seem to address all the issues), a key point which I propose, is that leaseholders who have to pay service charges, and then run into trouble should be looked at by benefits advisors to see if they are entitled to their maintenance charges (or some of them) being paid by the state’s Welfare Benefit’s scheme – under Housing Costs. In my view the cabinet paper should make it conditional that independent welfare advice is sought, and/or that it is done through the Council’s own excellent in house Welfare Benefits team.Should some leaseholders be entitled to Housing Costs, then it will not fall to the Council Treasury (and so to local tax payers) to have to subsidise leasehold arrears. Ignoring the above, but just in general, any residential leaseholder (private or state) who is struggling with maintenance charges should check to see if they may benefit from this little known and never publicised entitlement to Housing Costs.[Different to Housing Benefit]
George Knox ● 6203d0 Comments ● 6203d