How do i know i'm not being ripped off by council??

Akom

I own a 2 bedroom flat which is part of 3 storey block of six. We are currently having renovation work being carried out by the council as they're my landlord. There seems to be 2 phases. They've completed the 1st phase which consisted of a new front door, new communual door, door entry system and painting of the common area (staircase). For this they want just over £5000. This seems a hell of a lot of money for that amount of work.

Phase 2 will be worse as they'll be replacing windows, ramp to communual door, replacement of soffets (sp) and refurmbishment of balconies. This has been estimated at around £22000.

How do i know these are fair prices and with the present climate with banks and the falling price of properties, where do i find the money?

KellyWelly

If you are in council owned property how are you having to pay anything at all? Is it social housing?

Francesanne

KellyWelly wrote: »

If you are in council owned property how are you having to pay anything at all? Is it social housing?

Sounds like they've bought their property from the council. Friend of mine has bought her council flat and they've had to pay out a small fortune for similiar improvements.

Akom

Francesanne right. This is an ex council property so although i own the flat (well the bank own it really :rolleyes: ) they are still my landlord. There are quite a few of us being effected because of this. The council are extremely hard work to get clear information from and often change their story as they go.

It's a horrible position to be in as they tell you what doors you're going to have, what intercom system and what windows whether you like them or not and then charge us the earth for the privilage.

Penny-Pincher!!

Surely, it would be a fair question to ask your council for a break down of costs and they would have to honour that

I have always found council work to be shoddy (sp) and over priced.

Does everyone in the block of flats own them, or are some still tenants? It sounds like you have been slapped with other peoples costings as they are NOT fair quotes for such small amounts of work!

There should have been a meeting before any work goes ahead anyway.

HTH

PP
xx