Fed is a lifeline for many tenants

Published: 1 September, 2011

• I WRITE on behalf of the members of the Frognal Estate Residents’ Association who have been members and supporters of the Camden Federation of Private Tenants for many years.  

We are all very distressed to learn that because of a withdrawal of funding by Camden Council they will have to close by the end of the year. Their help has been vital to many private tenants in distress.

Many people they have helped hade not realised that they were private tenants until they had problems.

Many leaseholders, who have invested thousands of pounds in their property are tenants and, unknowingly, can face the numerous problems associated with this status.

In this borough there are so many leasehold flats that the demand for the almost free service offered by the “Fed” is a vital lifeline when troubles arise.

There are some good landlords and managing agents, but some are not good.

They have their professional bodies, they know the rules and maximise their application to their advantage.

Consultation notices have very strict time limits and the tenants have a very short time to get their act together – and not unlimited funds.

This is when the Fed serves such a vital role in the community.

The staff, who are excellent, answer queries as soon as they get the message (not always immediately because they are not employed full-time) and make helpful suggestions about where to go and what to do.

We appeal to councillors to think again about their decision not to fund this organisation.

They, too, may need to use its services  themselves or recommend it to distressed citizens at their surgeries.

MARIE GARSIDE
Frognal Estate RA, NW3