OAPs in protest over service charge hikes

KEELEY KNOWLES

Pensioners have staged a revolt against their housing association over huge service charge increases.

Those living in Boswell and Chandos Court, Bedford, have been expressing their anger at the hikes.

As a result of the annual rent review carried out by Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association (BPHA), the residents are having to pay up to £75 extra every month for the charges.

In Boswell Court alone, which has 114 flats, it has been calculated that BPHA will receive more than £194,000 a year in service charges.

The fees include paying for warden alarm cords and asbestos safety checks.

Many residents have expressed their concern at these new charges.


Many of the residents in the sheltered accommodation survive on a pension and say they will struggle to afford the increased charges.

Pamela Hancock, 69, said: “I don’t think an old person should be in this position after 50 years of working life.

“After I pay the rent I’ll be left with £172 a month from my pension to live on.



He is inviting members of BPHA and also residents to attend and hopes to provide a platform for the problems to be addressed. Alison Baggott, executive director for customer relations, said: “We have enormous sympathy with the residents who have been affected by the service charge rises and are sorry it has been necessary to take this course of action.

“Like all areas of the public sector, our finances are being squeezed and we can no longer afford to subsidise services as we have in the past. The new charges reflect the true cost of providing services.

“There are benefits available to assist with many of the charges and we have a specialist money advice team who can help residents to ensure they are claiming all of the benefits to which they are entitled.”