When Maddern bought his flat in 2023, the annual service charge was about £1,300 per year. He was told there was £5,000 in what is known as a sinking fund to cover any necessary works.
But the following year, he received a bill for £8,000 to go towards fire safety work and new windows.
“Originally I thought there was some kind of mistake,” he said. But when he queried the charge, Curo confirmed it was accurate.
Maddern describes “constant delays” in his attempts to reach out to Curo and negotiate.
“They were totally uncaring,” he said, adding he was told he could sell his property and pay the fee that way.
Maddern said he ended up selling possessions and taking out loans to pay for the work.
While he said he knew that as a leaseholder he had a responsibility to contribute towards maintenance costs, he questioned why everything suddenly had to be done in a three-year period.
“If new windows are needed, absolutely that must be scheduled in. But to have everything in the space of three years, surely that is not a good approach,” he added.
