Scores of disheartened residents who have fought a battle over service charges have put their flats up for sale.
As many as 19 of the flats within the blocks on Ribble Heights are up sale.
Boards have gone up outside the flats on Grange Avenue and Fir Trees Avenue, which are lived in by leaseholders, who pay the charge to housing association Places For People who own the freehold of the buildings.
Michael Caughlin, 67, has lived in Sherbourne Lodge for more than 20 years.
He claims that so many of the flats have gone on sale because of high service charges.
Mr Caughlin owns his flat but each month has to pay a charge of £162 for maintenance.
He claims that people living there are “not getting value for money” because “nothing gets done” and as a result people are putting their homes up for sale.
He said: “I put mine up (for sale) but no one is buying.
“It was up for three months, then I took it off. There’s that many up for sale and no one is buying.
“It is a one bedroom flat, I’m here on my own and the service charge is £162 a month.
“They are definitely charging us too much.
“It might be normal in London but not in Preston.”
A Places for People spokesman said: “Ribble Heights contains 116 properties, a number of which are owned by individuals, who are free to market or sell their property as they wish.
“The level of service charges over the past decade have been determined as reasonable and fair by an independent valuation tribunal and reflect the level of services we provide to the building. Places for People makes no money whatsoever from these charges.”
Comments