Firm backs down over a £1,400 bill for paperwork (From Southend Standard)
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Firm backs down over a £1,400 bill for paperwork
1:00pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in Echo News By George Thorpe
Frank Summers and the disabled ramp he wants to replace
A LAND management company which charged a couple £1,400 to allow a ramp to be built outside their home has apologised and refunded some of the cash.
On Thursday, the Echo reported how 54-year-old Denise Summers, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, and her husband Frank, 55, had paid the whopping bill just to get permission to install a ramp at their bungalow in Marcus Chase, Thorpe Bay.
Their home, and many others in the area, is covered by a “restrictive covenant”, so an alteration licence had to be obtained from Pier Management, which controls the covenant, before any work could be done.
Now the company has backed down and allowed the couple to obtain the paperwork for £250 plus VAT.
The company, which is a subsidiary of Regis Group, has sent Mr Summers a cheque for £1,074 as a refund of money he had already paid.
In a letter to Mr Summers, a representative of the firm said: “Please accept our sincere apologies for the oversight in regards to how this matter has been handled.”
Mr Summers said the company’s decision had come as a “huge relief”.
He said: “It has taken a large weight off our shoulders.
“We’re both really pleased. It seems like the Echo article did the trick!
“I am still disappointed at the way they appear to have tried it on with us, but Denise is happy now as she was getting quite stressed by it all.
“The work will be really beneficial to us both, as it is quite a struggle to run around with the temporary ramp at the side of our home just to get Denise in and out.”
Burges Estate Residents’ Association chairman Ron Woodley, who has been campaigning against the high fees charged by Regis, thanked the Echo for its help in the Summers's case.
Mr Woodley said: “Because of your efforts some of the charges have been dropped and a cheque for £1,074 has been returned and a licence has been issued.
“Please, all leaseholders across Southend, take note and know your rights.”
Mr Summers, a retired construction manager, said the work, which includes moving a door from the side to the front of the property, should be done within the next week.
Comments(15)
V_is_back
says...
2:34pm Thu 30 Aug 12
Displeased of Shoebury
says...
2:37pm Thu 30 Aug 12
perini
says...
2:58pm Thu 30 Aug 12
“Please, all leaseholders across Southend, take note and know your rights.”
It's not a question of rights and knowing them or not - it's about the Regis group rethinking their strategy after the negative publicity in the Echo! I doubt if this will happen again - they are not known for their generosity!
Audioman
says...
4:16pm Thu 30 Aug 12
and saved all that money,you can remove it when not in use.
Brunning999
says...
6:44pm Thu 30 Aug 12
Take a look at some private estates that have moronic householders that turn areas into industrial looking estates.
MUSHY
says...
8:06pm Thu 30 Aug 12
com also they were investigated by BBC Watchdog programme
Regis also own Roslin Hotel paid for with their honourable profits from above think about it next time you consider making a booking there !!
heartbeat
says...
1:00am Fri 31 Aug 12
Leighdweller wrote:I guess it's because the Burgess Estate is such a lovely area that if you want to live there (and can afford it!) you have to put up with it. I'm sure people wouldn't rush to pay a fortune for houses with covenants in less sought-after areas. Still completely unfair that this company seems to be trying to rip people off, particularly disabled. I think an Echo investigation (like the one for the dodgy clampers) would be a great idea. It must be very intimidating for elderly homeowners etc.
It always amazes me why anyone would buy a house with any such covenants.
v.randy
says...
3:18am Fri 31 Aug 12
He ran the Burges Estate ,collected the monies he was entitled to
ground rents etc and left it at that.
Now we have a company that is simply employing legal advisors and going through the vague convenants and trying it on knowing that most people will be intimidated by the aggressive tone of the demands.
Let me give you an example..On a lease written 60 years ago it will say that you should prior to fixing anything to an external wall contact the Freeholder for approval..this is a protective clause to prevent owners doing stupid things like hanging dead sheep outside their door.
Now it is a way of cashing in as the above company have realised that lots of us have sat dishes so they have issued letters demanding £500 per household for permission to have one on a wall.They claim to have done a survey on each home.This is merely the tip of the iceberg.
As in this case they have back-tracked..you don't back-track if the bill is legitimate.
gordonbennet
says...
2:02pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Brunning999 wrote:True enough, but Regis/Pier always seem give permission for alterations, provided they are paid their exhorbitant fees.
I would rather have strict covenants and live in a nicely kept area rather than leave it to self regulating control. Take a look at some private estates that have moronic householders that turn areas into industrial looking estates.
jonboy55
says...
7:56pm Fri 31 Aug 12
gordonbennet wrote:Pier management have tried to charge for items such as mounting of sat dish, license to sublet, additional management fees and even management fees in advance! These fees are not always in the lease.
Brunning999 wrote:True enough, but Regis/Pier always seem give permission for alterations, provided they are paid their exhorbitant fees.
I would rather have strict covenants and live in a nicely kept area rather than leave it to self regulating control. Take a look at some private estates that have moronic householders that turn areas into industrial looking estates.
They seem to hope people are too timid to confront them and of course many are and pay up. The Echo should look at what some of these so called management companies are doing in the Southend area.
MUSHY
says...
9:16pm Fri 31 Aug 12
heartbeat
says...
12:39am Sat 1 Sep 12
jonboy55 wrote:They've been taken to court before and found to be, shall we say, "less-than-transpare
gordonbennet wrote:Pier management have tried to charge for items such as mounting of sat dish, license to sublet, additional management fees and even management fees in advance! These fees are not always in the lease.
Brunning999 wrote:True enough, but Regis/Pier always seem give permission for alterations, provided they are paid their exhorbitant fees.
I would rather have strict covenants and live in a nicely kept area rather than leave it to self regulating control. Take a look at some private estates that have moronic householders that turn areas into industrial looking estates.
They seem to hope people are too timid to confront them and of course many are and pay up. The Echo should look at what some of these so called management companies are doing in the Southend area.
nt" with their charges..
http://www.residenti
al-property.judiciar
y.gov.uk/Files/2009/
September/00104WDG.p
df
MUSHY
says...
7:44pm Sat 1 Sep 12
andy:)
says...
10:31am Thu 27 Sep 12
Leighdweller says...
1:27pm Thu 30 Aug 12