2 weeks Ago
Tenants in a shared-ownership estate were shocked to see a new charge after their leases were taken over by another housing association. Bolton at Home (BaH) merged with Arcon Housing association in March 2024, bringing 1,300 homes under the BaH umbrella. This included taking over all tenancy agreements and leases, which the organisation said would not be changed.
One estate owned by Arcon was Kittybert Avenue in Gorton, where BaH has now taken over the shared-ownership leases that locals signed. Margaret McGurrin, 59, said she was shocked to see an extra charge for building insurance when the company sent her the annual rent increase. She said: “A few weeks ago, Bolton at Home sent out the annual rent increase and they said building insurance would be £5.
95. “I said it must be a mistake because we have never paid it, and I have an Arcon lease which Bolton at Home took over.” Margaret said that she has been living in the house for 14 years and for all that time, she understood that building insurance was included with the rent.
She said that under the law, landlords have an 18 month window after the lease is signed in which to inform tenants of any service charges. Margaret said: “Even if it was Arcon who were wrong, and should have asked for this increase, they should have asked for it between me signing the lease and the following 18 months. “Instead of now trying to claw the service charge back.
” Nyesha Farage, 45, has lived on the estate for ten years and says that the charge goes against their contract. She said: “We have a contract and they are not standing by it – it’s out of order, they can’t get away with these things. “I know it’s only six pounds, but it’s six pounds this week, sixteen the next.
” Bolton at Home took over the leases for all the houses in Kittybert Avenue in Gorton (Image: Google Maps) Have a story? Get in touch at [email protected].
uk Bolton at Home said that the leases tenants hold with them are the same lease they held with Arcon, and that they permit them to charge building insurance. A spokesperson for Bolton at Home said: “This issue affects around 40 shared ownership leaseholders that transferred to Bolton at Home following our merger with Arcon. “Costs incurred by Arcon and Bolton at Home for maintaining up to date buildings insurance, which is a requirement of the lease, were not being charged back to leaseholders as they should have been.
READ MORE: Bolton at Home warns of action against tenants at Jubilee House READ MORE: Bolton house has firms worth billions of pounds registered there READ MORE: Northern highlights commercial space at Bolton station “Under the terms of the lease, Bolton at Home is permitted to recover these costs from the leaseholder and these charges have now been introduced. “However, they are not being backdated and only apply from 1 April 2025. “This ensures consistency and fairness for all of our leasehold customers.
We apologise to those customers affected for any inconvenience or confusion caused.”.
