Residents’ fury at bill from maintenance firm

'WHY SHOULD WE PICK UP THIS COST WHEN WE HAVE PAID?'

- By NAOMI CORRIGAN

ANGRY residents have hit out after being sent a charge to cover the legal fees of an estate management company chasing debts.

People living in Persimmon-built homes within parts of Ingleby Barwick and Marton in Middlesbrough pay an annual charge to Gateway Property Management for the upkeep and maintenance of their area of the estate.

But last month, homeowners were sent letters requesting an additional “balancing charge”, to be paid within weeks to cover an “overspend” in pre-action legal fees incurred while it pursues bill-dodgers.

Some residents said they had serious concerns about the charge from Gateway Property Management, on behalf of Ingleby (Barwick) Management Company.

David Knowles, 44, lives in The Larches area in Ingleby Barwick and was asked to pay the £16 charge by April 16. He said it was an “unfair and unacceptable” practice penalising those who have honoured their commitments. The charge is on top of the contracted maintenance service charge already billed to residents on the estate.