OWNERS of a block of flats in Basingstoke are seeking to oust their property management company amid substantial service charge increases.

Residents of Ashley Lodge in Frescade Crescent have been locked in a long-standing dispute with Hickstead Estates Limited, which manages their flats.

The residents say the service charge imposed by the company is exorbitant and unjustifiable, leaving them struggling to make ends meet.

Aaron Sheridan, one of the residents at the flats in Kings Furlong, said that Hickstead has raised service charges by an alarming 30-40 per cent annually over the last three to four years.

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He said, the annual service charge stood at a reasonable £1,200 in 2018, but this figure has since skyrocketed to £4,000 per year.

“This comes at a time when the UK faces a cost of living crisis, making such steep increases all the more burdensome for residents,” Mr Sheridan said.

According to the leasehold advisory service, the average service charge in the UK typically ranges between £1,000 to £2,000 per year.

Adding to their frustration, residents say there is an infrequent cleaning service and poor maintenance work. 

“We have recently found out that the company is not registered under a government redress scheme, which according to the lease advice bureau, is a legal requirement,” Mr Sheridan said.

The lack of regulation, coupled with the unresponsiveness of Hickstead representatives, has left residents feeling helpless and ignored.

Mr Sheridan said multiple attempts to obtain information and clarification from the property management company have gone unanswered or resulted in vague responses.

“I am in the middle of trying to vote them out,” he said.

“So that we can try and get a different property management company. Or we could apply for a right to manage that. We need to get the majority of landlords for that. We’ve got eight of them – six landlords and eight flats out of 12. All the residents are really unhappy with Hickstead.

“Legally, who manages the property is residents’ choice if 50 per cent of landlords decide so.”

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In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Hickstead said: “We are always happy to discuss service charge concerns with leaseholders.

“Regarding a property redress scheme, we are not registered as the management we undertake does not fall within the definition of ‘property management work’ under section 84(6) of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.”

The spokesperson confirmed that Hickstead owns the freehold of the property.