Your lead story about leaseholders receiving large repair bills (‘Don’t bamboozle us over repairs’, Times Series, January 15) reminded me of when I owned an ex-council flat in Westminster. A small fortune was spent by our association members on legal action, but in the end, we got nowhere. Leases state that repairs and maintenance costs are rechargeable. The problem was that tenders to the council appeared to cost a lot more than if done privately. Additionally, they added their admin charges of up to 20 per cent, making bills even higher.

Although consulted throughout the procedure, the lessees had no control over expenditure. I ended up with a bill in excess of £24,000 and was left with no option than to sell my property to pay the debt. I had lived there for 47 years, from childhood.

There’s no easy way out if finances can’t be raised, other than selling the property. Ten years down the line, Barnet Homes might decide to carry out another major works programme and hand out more large bills.

Harvey Angel

Farnham Close, Oakleigh