The petition of Residents of Tadros Court, Ercolani Avenue and Roperies in the Windsor Gate development, High Wycombe,
Declares that during the last three years, service charge costs have surged, but services have fallen for the residents of the Windsor Gate development, High Wycombe, a right-to-manage mixed estate comprising of freehold and leasehold blocks built by Bellway in 2006; further that residents are not provided with the services declared; further that the services that are provided are of substandard level or are not needed; further that freeholders are paying for locked and gated private amenity space for flats; further that the estate is run down, with little or no maintenance; further that there is litter, pests and weeds throughout; further that residents pay the same service charge whether they occupy a 1 bed flat or a 3 bed flat, due to mistakes made by the developer; further that increases in charges are not transparent and have been made without property resident input; further that there has been clear degradation of duty with regards to freeholders, with poor correlation between the rents demanded and the works undertaken in maintenance of the surrounding areas; further that resident directors and managing agents responsible for the collection of the service charges are aware residents lack rights and protections under any Act of Parliament; further that there is no process to receive and consider accounts prior to payment, or to be provided with information relating to the charges claimed; further that voting rights of all who are in shared ownership and in social housing have been removed.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to introduce legislation to give greater transparency and accountability for service charges in residential developments; further urges the Government to conduct a full investigation of the “fleecehold” practice as it is causing owners stress, anxiety and distress and in some cases, has required going to court.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr Steve Baker.]