Refused service charge payment.

cecelia

Can anyone please point me in the right direction regarding service charges paid by benefits.
I have tried C.A.B. and have been told they do not give advice on this matter as it is a housing issue, so I don't know where to turn.

I sent in my annual bill to the dwp and have been refused payment for the following items for work undertaken throughout the year. Repair/rebuild of the chimney & replacement of the rear boundary wall.
I have been told that they are not eligible service charges.
These works were carried out as instructed by the freeholder of the property.

I am extremely worried as I have a 4K outstanding bill.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Is the DWP responsible for paying service charges?

My late Mum had hers paid for through the local council. But they will only pay the monthly service charge. I don't think they'll cough up for capital items of expenditure.

cecelia

Yes they are responsible for yearly service charges as they have allowed payment apart from the two I mentioned.

You are correct they are paid on a monthly basis.
What I cannot understand is why those items have been excluded.

oldhand

cecelia wrote: »

Yes they are responsible for yearly service charges as they have allowed payment apart from the two I mentioned.

You are correct they are paid on a monthly basis.
What I cannot understand is why those items have been excluded.

would the repair/rebuild of a chimney not be covered by the owners house insurance? and if the boundary wall was replaced because of accidental damage it also.

pmlindyloo

OP, it might help forum users if you could give us a little more information about your accommodation. eg a flat in a complex providing..................., a private flat/house.

I am unsure about what kind of service charges you are paying? What do they cover? Have you ever been billed for work to the building before?

Sorry for all the questions. Can't quite understand how these service charges work.

Mara69

If the OP is paying service charges, then s/he lives in a leasehold property - usually a flat. Service charges and major works bills are paid by the DWP for people that are in receipt of means tested benefits and pension credit. For the record, major works are actually also service charges but are called major works to identify the difference between the standard quarterly charges for things like communal heating, building insurance, grounds maintenance, responsive repairs etc and works that need to be carried out like replacing the roof. OP, did your freeholder carry out S20 consulation as the works were in excess of £250?

BigAunty

Speak to Shelter - the charges they outline on their website seem to indicate that HB covers the cost of communal services but no repair or maintenance type of charges are listed as examples. Shelter may be able to advise.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_calculations#4

Housing benefit can help with the cost of some service charges, for example:

• fuel charges for communal areas
• charges for communal laundry facilities
• charges for lifts, entry phones, gardens and children’s play areas.

BigAunty

Here is a document published by the DWP with a bit more info on eligible service charges under HB.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/rr2-a-guide-to-housing-benefit/what-you-can-claim-for/

pmlindyloo

Mara69 wrote: »

If the OP is paying service charges, then s/he lives in a leasehold property - usually a flat. Service charges and major works bills are paid by the DWP for people that are in receipt of means tested benefits and pension credit. For the record, major works are actually also service charges but are called major works to identify the difference between the standard quarterly charges for things like communal heating, building insurance, grounds maintenance, responsive repairs etc and works that need to be carried out like replacing the roof. OP, did your freeholder carry out S20 consulation as the works were in excess of £250?

The confusion for me is that HB is being mentioned by some people and information is being given as if the OP is receiving HB.

If the OP lives in a leasehold flat then she either is an owner occupier and can't be receiving HB (perhaps housing costs?) or she is in a privately rented place and the LL owns the leasehold and then the LL is responsible for major repairs?

I am obviously missing something here hence my asking for further information

BigAunty

Good point, think I assumed she was on HB without it being said...

pmlindyloo

This has been bugging me so thought I would give a link for anyone interested.

http://www.ovh.org.uk/about-us

I have never heard of a scheme like this in my part of the world - interesting. Didn't know you could rent and be a leaseholder.

From a brief look and to try and answer the original question the DWP will pay service charges (which includes building works) if they are a necessary part of keeping the buildings and grounds a fit place to live.

I suspect the OP will need to query with the freeholder why the work carried out and how they constitute a necessary need for the leaseholder. This then would set up the argument for the leaseholder to get back to the DWP and 'fight' for the right to have them reinbursed.