Tenant being charged for fire alarm works

ThisIsKit

Hello,
I was wondering if anybody would be able to help/advice me about the following, please;
 I am a tenant living in a block of flats in Berkshire owed by a housing association. I have received a letter from the housing association stating that I am required to pay a contribution of £1760 towards the fire alarm works. I currently pay a monthly sum of money for a service charge. I find the above contribition charge unreasonable especially that I believe such maintenance should be coveredby the service charge. Could anyone please advise me of what to do in this situation?
Many Thanks,
Kit

TELLIT01

How many storeys to the block?  It may be relevant.

Bradden

It's unusual for tenants to pay the service charge on a property... isn't this usually covered by the landlord .. or does this work differently for housing assosciations?

Jonboy_1984

Does it state section 20 on the paperwork?

When you state you are a tenant can you confirm you are renting and haven’t purchased the leasehold(via right to buy or similar)?

Is the whole block HA tenants or are any of the flats held privately?

HampshireH

Your service charge will be for routine ongoing costs such as lighting, cleaning, etc

This will also likely have last year's repairs charged back across all flats.

Your service charge unless inclusive of a sinking fund (does it?) Won't pay for major works needed. Section 20 consultation is required. 

This is normal. Fire detection systems aren't cheap but they are necessary and unfortunately this type of costs it normal for leaseholders.

ThisIsKit

TELLIT01 said:

How many storeys to the block?  It may be relevant.

Hi, thanks for your response. It's a 3-storey building (including ground floor).

ThisIsKit

Jonboy_1984 said:

Does it state section 20 on the paperwork?

When you state you are a tenant can you confirm you are renting and haven’t purchased the leasehold(via right to buy or similar)?

Is the whole block HA tenants or are any of the flats held privately?

Hi, Thank you for your reply. 
Yes, the letter they sent me states section 20.
I can confirm I'm a tenant, renting a flat and have no partiql or full ownership of any of the properties.

I believe some of the flats are owned privately in the block.

ThisIsKit

HampshireH said:

Your service charge will be for routine ongoing costs such as lighting, cleaning, etc

This will also likely have last year's repairs charged back across all flats.

Your service charge unless inclusive of a sinking fund (does it?) Won't pay for major works needed. Section 20 consultation is required. 

This is normal. Fire detection systems aren't cheap but they are necessary and unfortunately this type of costs it normal for leaseholders.

Hi, Thank you for your message. 

I don't think my service charge inclusive of sinking fund.
I do not own the flat I'm a tenant renting.

Could you please explain what I need to do when you say "section 20 consultation is required"? 
Many thanks 

Jonboy_1984

Section 20 is the legal process for consultation about shared maintenance costs for larger projects on leasehold buildings. It normally has stages where you can propose companies to be asked to tender and for the freeholder to explain why they have selected a bid. They don’t have to choose the cheapest but do have to ensure charges are fair or they can be challenged at a tribunal.

Your tenancy agreement will specify whether you are liable or not. Looking at the guidance for a large local housing association round here (as an example) , all tenants and leaseholders are liable for a share of fire alarm maintenance costs. https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com/8dec58ef-6182-01a1-b7d9-91c7afabbc51/47e66c92-4ed5-4cf8-b61e-4387d15f872b/Service-charge-headings-factsheet.pdf

It may be Worth seeing if your HA have a guide to service charges on their website or that they can email to you.

ic

ThisIsKit said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Does it state section 20 on the paperwork?

When you state you are a tenant can you confirm you are renting and haven’t purchased the leasehold(via right to buy or similar)?

Is the whole block HA tenants or are any of the flats held privately?

Hi, Thank you for your reply. 
Yes, the letter they sent me states section 20.
I can confirm I'm a tenant, renting a flat and have no partiql or full ownership of any of the properties.

I believe some of the flats are owned privately in the block.

If you're renting, then you must have a landlord, and perhaps deal with a letting agent?  Forward the letter to them, it's their concern.

ThisIsKit

Jonboy_1984 said:

Section 20 is the legal process for consultation about shared maintenance costs for larger projects on leasehold buildings. It normally has stages where you can propose companies to be asked to tender and for the freeholder to explain why they have selected a bid. They don’t have to choose the cheapest but do have to ensure charges are fair or they can be challenged at a tribunal.

Your tenancy agreement will specify whether you are liable or not. Looking at the guidance for a large local housing association round here (as an example) , all tenants and leaseholders are liable for a share of fire alarm maintenance costs.

It may be Worth seeing if your HA have a guide to service charges on their website or that they can email to you.

 Jonboy_1984,
Thank you very much for explaining what Section 20 was.

Meanwhile I have received another letter from the HA stating;
"We have received information that Section 20 consultation process is no longer required for these works. This means we will no longer be contacting with the process as laid out in our previous letter. These fire safety works will be carried out soon."

I am confused. Can they do this? 

Many thanks 
Kitty