It has emerged that all local leaseholders in Haringey are being forced to pay up to £800 each for the installation of digital aerials, without an option to opt out of the scheme. Haringey Council is obliged under central government legislation to provide digital access to all tenants, but has decided to pass on large costs to leaseholders even if they do not want services or already have digital access through cable or telephone service providers.

Local Liberal Democrats, who are calling for an opt-out clause, have branded the charging system “unacceptable” and have highlighted similar schemes in Islington and Barnet where leaseholders have an opt-out clause and costs are much lower. In Islington the cost is a one-off fee of £75.

Liberal Democrats are backing local leaseholders’ associations in their fight against the charges and have said that Haringey Council needs to listen to leaseholders and change the scheme.

Cllr Matt Davies, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson, comments:

“These charges are totally unacceptable. For too long Haringey Council has been using leaseholders as a cash-cow but this time Haringey has gone too far.

“Not only are they failing to give leaseholders any say in whether they want this service but they are charging up to ten times more than other boroughs.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Leaseholders already have to pay large sums of money in maintenance and work carried out by Homes for Haringey yet, at any given opportunity, they are asked to dig into their pockets. In a time of recession this is just not on.

“Homes for Haringey need to re-consider this unfair policy.If they fail to act, Haringey Council should use its powers of direction to make them.”