Blenheim estate resident to receive itemised bill FIVE years after request

Published: 1st April, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

A HOLLOWAY leaseholder is to receive an itemised bill for maintenance work five years after she first asked for one.

Contractors working on behalf of Homes for Islington (HfI) carried out the repairs in 2006 over three months on the Blenheim estate at Marlborough Road, replacing windows with double glazing, repairing the roof and other common areas. Yara Spinelly, 56, had threatened to go to court rather than pay the full £28,000 for her share of the work on her estate because she had never received a final bill.

Ms Spinelly has so far paid just £12,000 – but because she queries the full amount she asked for a detailed bill.

Now, after questions were asked by the Tribune, Ms Spinelly is to get a fully itemised bill listing precisely what was done and how much it cost.

She said this week: “I’ve waited five years for an itemised bill. It’s sad that I had to threaten to go to court before HFI agreed to one. I’d like to thank the Islington Tribune for their help”

Ms Spinelly claimed that HfI only offered an estimated “ball park” figure for the work by contractors repairing the block where she has a three-bedroom flat.

Brazilian-born Ms Spinelly, an administrative worker who has one daughter, purchased the ground floor flat 11 years ago for £160,000.

Up to 60 leaseholders on the estate were given various bills for the work, depending on the size of their flats.

Ms Spinelly is one of several who received the largest bills.

She said: “I was given a bill for £28,000, which I thought was a lot of money. But I had time to pay, including two interest-free years.

“I paid £12,000 but I  refused to pay any more because they wouldn’t give me a proper final itemised statement for what they have done.

“All I’ve ever received from HfI is an estimated bill. I don’t think that’s fair. If you had employed a private builder you would automatically receive a statement explaining the detail of the work being done.

“HfI have told me that if I don’t explain how I am going to pay the extra £16,000 then they will take me to court. They have offered me more time to pay.” 

Chairman of the Islington Leaseholders Association Dr Brian Potter also welcomed HfI’s decision to provide a proper bill. 

He said: “How can you expect people to pay a large amount of money when they don’t know what they are paying for?  Unfortunately, unless you chase and put pressure on HfI they will not give you the information required.

“They charge on the basis of labour and mat­erials covering an entire block. Ms Spinelly wanted them to break down what she personally was being charged for. Hopefully the information will provide evidence for her to appeal against the full charge.”

A HfI spokesman said: “We apologise for the delay in issuing the final itemised bill to Ms Spinelly, but this is because we need to ensure that work that has not been completed properly is rectified before any payment to the contractor can be made. 

“There have been a number of issues regarding defects in the work carried out by contractors at Blenheim Court. We have made sure everything has been put right at no extra cost to leaseholders, before issuing the final itemised bill. HfI appreciate the patience of residents here and we are happy to report this matter has now been resolved with the contractor. 

“The final account bills will be issued in the next couple of weeks.”