Aster: Leaseholder's repair bills at Andover flats 'devastating'

A housing estate's leaseholders have said years of battles over repair bills have affected their mental health.

The housing association Aster charged flats tenants in Kingsway Gardens in Andover, Hampshire, up to £37,000 each to cover the cost of major structural work.

Some of them were told they would be taken to court if they failed to pay.

Aster said it continued to provide "ongoing financial well-being support".

The residents were first told about the work that Aster said needed doing in 2015.

The housing association said work, such as replacing guttering and asphalt on balconies, was needed - in part to stop water getting into some of the buildings.

Estimates of costs steadily rose and were eventually challenged in court.

A tribunal in 2018 found the residents had not been given enough information about the planned work and ordered Aster to reduce the costs.

Jamie Pearman, whose share of the bill came to £37,000, described the situation as "devastating".

"My mental health took a real knock - I'm on medication," the 51-year-old, father of two said.

He moved back in with his parents to save money.

"I haven't lived there in a year and a half" he said.

"I'm still paying the bills, still paying the mortgage. It's a bit silly."

Former NHS nurse Michelle Wilson, who owns one of the affected flats, said she had used a lump sum from her pension to settle a £28,000 bill.

She had been threatened with a county court judgement if she failed to pay.

"They had threatened that if I didn't pay there would be an interest charge of £7000 on top of that," Ms Wilson explained.

"It's like musical chairs - the music stops, you're on it and you've got to pick up the bill for all the years before."

Kit Malthouse, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire, said a new law should make it easier to understand such costs.

Mr Malthouse said the residents wanted Aster to explain "broadly in words of one syllable, why these amounts are appearing on their service charge"?

An Aster spokesperson said, that after the tribunal, the amount payable by customers "for work that they deemed was unnecessary" had been reduced and cost savings of more than £470,000 had been passed on to them following successful negotiations with the contractor.

The housing association recognised the costs were "significant" but said the works had been "both extensive and essential" for the safety of the homes.

"All customers received a full breakdown of the expenditure and we've also provided copies of invoices from our contractors when requested," they continued.

"During this time we have endeavoured to work closely with our customers and continue to provide financial well-being support."

The spokesperson said the "vast majority" of residents had either paid in full or had a payment arrangement in place, "which for some means they pay nothing until such time as they decide to sell their home".

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