PENSIONERS and low-income residents have been slapped with repairs bills worth up to £1300 for works carried out almost three years ago.

Homeowners at the Wyndford in Maryhill have been left with only 14 days to repay the debts after being footed the invoice in August. 

The matter has left locals “frightened” about their finances as they attempt to exhaust all avenues to repay the factor, Lowther Homes. 

Glasgow Times:

Ellenor Hutson, secretary at Living Rent, said: “The bill was to cover new lighting and electricity wires but the work was carried out nearly three years ago. 

“Owners were already facing different bills and were told that they had to pay this one within two weeks. 

“The majority of residents at the Wyndford are pensioners and people on low incomes so it’s obviously a really big worry for them that they won’t be able to pay it on time.”

A petition was handed to Lowther Homes on Saturday afternoon by residents in their plea for social housing bosses to negotiate the fees. 

Glasgow Times:

The firm has since apologised to homeowners and offered them a necessary payment plan. 

Now, Living Rent is calling on the factor to make repairs bills “timeous” so they are sent between four to six weeks after works take place. 

Ms Hutson said: “We would like to see the bills include three quotes from contractors, which is standard procedure across the country. 

“It should also be itemised which did not happen in this instance. We have tenants who feel as though they received no notification of this bill for almost £2000.  

“Homeowners should get a say in potential works to their properties. This work was carried out with the intention of improving the scheme. The residents don’t get a say but they are counted for any capital investment that the factor decides. 

“They need to have a say over what is being done in their name."

Glasgow Times:

Meanwhile, as homeowners wait to hear back from housing bosses, pressure is mounting on residents to find the fees. 

Ms Hutson said: “Many are very frightened and are worrying about what they are going to be left with. One member managed to scrape £61 together in one week.  

“It’s a worry that they can just be hit with a massive bill like this that leaves them with nothing.  

“Nobody has that kind of money that they can just send off on a bill these days. It is unfair that they can just drop this on people. 

“There is one owner who suffers from dementia and her daughter has told us she has been receiving calls from people who are pressuring her for payment. The whole situation has just been handed terribly.” 

Lowther Housing said that residents were notified of potential costs for a new communal lights system before works took place. 

A spokesperson said: “We held meetings with owners in these blocks about upgrading the communal area lighting and let them know in advance the proposed costs. We gained the necessary consent for the work to go ahead.

“We’re sorry for any delay in issuing the bills while we carried out final checks on the lights.

“Any customer who is worried about paying should get in touch with us as soon as possible. We can offer payment plans and other advice to help.”