Local Liberal Democrats have been successful in their bid to force a review of Haringey Council’s controversial decision to change the way leaseholders are charged for work to their properties.

Haringey Council’s Cabinet agreed on 15th July 2008 that leaseholders should pay up-front for major works but opposition from Liberal Democrats has forced the decision to be considered by the Council’s ‘watchdog’ committee.

Prior to the new scheme leaseholders would pay for major work after completion. However, under the new scheme Homes for Haringey will be allowed to pressure leaseholders to pay before work has started.Liberal Democrats have criticised this change, saying leaseholders who refuse to pay the full amount upfront rather than waiting to see if the work has been done properly will be charged on average £325 more.

Liberal Democrats have demanded that proposals are changed to provide a full consultation of leaseholders and, following discussion, Haringey Council should re-examine payment options to reflect leaseholders’ views and to provide leaseholders with clear financial benefits.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Haringey Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, commented:

“This proposal would give a green light to shoddy workmanship and botched repairs by forcing leaseholders to pay up before work has been done. Nobody in their right mind would pay a builder the full amount upfront before they even start work. This is a leaseholder rip-off.

“At best this change is a cynical cash grab by Haringey Council. At a time when they know that the decent homes project will generate higher bills for leaseholders all they want to do is get their hands on it.

“Not only do leaseholders lose out financially on many of the proposals but Haringey Council failed to consult properly to ask leaseholders what they thought of the scheme.”