Letter from Sean Clerkin to Martin Armstrong, GHA, 23/6/11

Dear Mr Armstrong,  Homeowners have recently been issued their Common Charge Account which is, on average, £10 dearer than the previous quarter.  This increase in factoring management fees, building insurance premium and other items is very steep, given the current economic situation, with many homeowners finding it difficult to make ends meet.  This increase is over £40 per annum and, taken in conjunction with overcladding bills and other repairs, is unjustifiable.  We have therefore stated to a recent meeting of homeowner representatives from across Glasgow that the homeowners only pay their Common Charge accounts for the quarter at the previous charge level.  We have advised them to withhold the extra £10 increase until you give them a full explanation of why this increase has occurred.  Your explanation will have to be justified to them before they will pay the difference.  I am writing to you on their behalf to ask you to explain why this increase has taken place.

 The building insurance premium, which has increased by nearly £6, is very perplexing.  Could you please provide the full terms and conditions of what the building insurance covers, as surely any repairs should come under the building insurance.

 It has come to our attention that the homeowners who were never previously charged for the stair lighting service have been charged with this for the first time in this quarter.  It is our understanding that the stair lighting service should be covered by Council Tax and not as a separate charge by GHA on homeowners.  Therefore could you please justify this charge in writing to us.

 It has also come to our attention that homeowners are being billed for vandalism of facilities in common areas such as windows and doors.  The precedent that was set with the Mary McDonald versus GHA case sets out clearly that homeowners are not to be charged for the costs of vandalism to common areas.

In conclusion, it seems to us that homeowners are being used as a commercial cash cow for the benefit of GHA Ltd. at the expense of hard-pressed homeowners.  To support this, it is clear that GHA Ltd, through GHA Management Ltd., are going to charge homeowners for a whole raft of services relating to maintenance which, on the whole, are not needed.

 I would be pleased if you could give a detailed response.

 Yours sincerely

 SEAN CLERKIN, Chairperson

Scottish Government Meeting

At a recent meeting with the Scottish Government on Tuesday 21 June 2011, we outlined the detail of the special survey to be undertaken in relation to GHA’s work on overcladding and re-roofing.  We outlined the three-step approach of the instigation of the survey.  We will again be meeting with the Scottish Government and the GHA on Wednesday 10 August.  This meeting will result in the survey going ahead immediately under Stage 1.  We want all the facts to come out clearly in the survey so that any defective work can be remedied before the housing and health time bomb occurs.  If you have any problems with overcladding or re-roofing, we want to hear about it.  Please phone Sean Clerkin on 07948-010959.