Suspiciously rounded figures in the landlords costs.

Stevenage Homes Limited is the landlord of The Towers. Each year they estimates the repair costs for the block and add this amount to the service charge levied to leaseholders.

Each year I ask for the breakdown and go through the list of repairs and try to spot where the work has been carried out.

This year the list includes the following:

• Supply and install fire door to electrical cupboard to provide 60 min fire rating £2,428
• Install ½ hour check service duct door £3334.11
• Renew 3x ½ hour Fire Check Doors £1177.41
• Apply one coat of stain, 1 base coat and one coat of gloss finish to 13 No doors at the above address. 12 No Refuse doors, one store door. £626

I have had a chat with the caretakers who have nothing to do with repairs. I asked them to show me the £2,428 fire door. I expected the door to be at least metal – probably gold plated. But no, this is it as far as I can tell. It is wood with a mat coat of paint (single I think).

This is one of the 12 ½ hour check service duct doors. £3334.11 for 12 doors works out at £277.84 a door.Again it is wood with a single mat coat of paint.

I do not know where the doors that were renewed are but they cost £377.67 each to renew – what ever that is.

The description for the painting is a bit confused. I think it refers to a total 13 doors. That is another £200 a door on top of the fitting costs just to paint them.

So, I sent an email to Anne Hensley of Stevenage Homes querying these costs. I have also got a few telephone numbers of other leaseholders in the block.

I must see what they have to say about paying £2,500 for a fire door, then an extra £200 to paint it.

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