Residents of the Beech Rise and Willow Rise flats in Kirkby, Merseyside, are facing a staggering £3.6 million bill for fire safety repairs after being forced out of their homes due to serious safety concerns. The buildings, which house 160 individual flats, were rendered uninhabitable as of July, prompting owners to fear they are caught in a financial nightmare.
Each flat owner could be liable for around £10,000 in service charges and repair costs despite not being able to live in their homes. Owners have expressed feeling "trapped" by the essence of their leases, which require them to cover virtually all maintenance and repair costs. The landlord cited debts incurred by the residents' management company and is contemplating legal action against it.
Originally refurbished into luxury apartments by LPC Living in 2006, flat owners have spent hundreds of thousands on addressing issues such as damp, faulty electrical systems, and inoperable lifts, which have even forced some residents to resort to sleeping in their cars due to a lack of access. Dave Hemmings, a 72-year-old tenant, exemplifies their plight with months of living without heating or water, citing his inability to afford the now-demanded repair costs.
With a 2011 transfer of head lease to a firm operated by businessman Michael Gubbay, the accountability for management and maintenance shifted, raising tensions among flat owners who feel they’ve been unfairly burdened with costs related to mismanagement. Gubbay's company and others linked to it have faced claims of poor service and unresponsiveness to maintenance needs, prompting reports of residents resigning from the management board due to frustrations over their inability to bring about change.
Despite receiving government grants for some repairs, issues persist, and the buildings were closed by the fire service for lack of adequate safety measures, with the council previously spending significant funds to keep residents safe until the definitive closure. This means residents like Michael Jones—who bought his flat in 2007—feel cornered into paying for failures of management that he believes shouldn't be their responsibility at all.
Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan has spoken out against the unfairness of these additional charges, emphasizing the need for legal support for the residents. The burden of ensuring repairs falls heavily on them, while those responsible for the ongoing neglect remain untouched. The council is urging government intervention to address the issues at hand and ensure that the financial responsibilities are rightfully assigned.
The current management company has stated that they aim to manage the buildings and conduct necessary works effectively, but the residents remain cautious, awaiting clarity on the future of their homes and the potential costs they might still incur.
