Residents of Combe Lodge, a Victorian villa converted into flats in Weston-super-Mare, have been hit with a staggering increase in their monthly service charges—from just £7 to £270 overnight. Those living in leasehold and shared ownership properties had been paying a modest £6.67 monthly contribution toward a repair fund, which has now abruptly soared to £273.01.
The housing association Curo, which owns the building, has apologised for the “shock” caused but maintained that repair and upgrade costs are an inevitable part of homeownership. However, many residents argue that this sudden hike has made what was once affordable housing unaffordable.
One shared ownership resident lamented, “What was intended to be an accessible and stable first home has instead become a financial burden.” Another reported that the dramatic increase forced them into overdraft, saying, “I have lost sleep at night due to the worry and distress.”
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Tensions have escalated as residents contend that Curo previously assured them they would not be charged for fire stopping works. The housing association clarified that this exemption applied only to fire stopping works in the loft, not to current necessary fire door upgrades.
In response, flat owners have taken the matter to the first-tier tribunal. They seek a formal ruling that these charges are unreasonable and not payable, along with an order to prevent Curo from passing on their legal costs to the leaseholders.
Alan Rice, Lead Representative for Weston Housing AcTion, remarked: “We offered Curo multiple chances to honour their commitments. Instead, they doubled down on what we consider a mathematically flawed and legally void demand. We now rely on the tribunal to protect residents from predatory overcharging.”
Curo acknowledged the significant increase and admitted it should have communicated the changes more clearly in advance, offering a formal apology. They explained that the increased payments would build a sinking fund to cover upcoming fire door upgrades estimated at around £3,000 per flat.
A Curo spokesperson said, “A sinking fund works like a savings account for flat owners, helping to offset large expenses when they arise. Last year, owners contributed only about £6 each per month, so we proposed increasing this to build sufficient funds.”
The housing association also expressed willingness to work with residents to find suitable solutions, including reducing sinking fund contributions and paying bills later or offering extended payment plans tailored to individual circumstances. They have invited residents for further discussions to find the best path forward.