hello everyone

I have just been referred to the forum by one of the owners on Crystal Bay View.

Reading over this thread, I have received no consultation at all about Maintenance. And as you know Crystal Bay View doesn't have its Gym and Indoor Jacuzzi, either.

£70, 000 "security" for a few hundred gallons of water?? Let's get real!

Yesterday's demand from Lynx for £1500 upfront includes a £495 "water deposit" to be paid to Evergreen, not the Water Authority. And Evergreen have already separately levied a £495 "water deposit" for the same water plus for the same water AND all other bills including cost of construction of a water tank Lynx are asking us to pay a £400 float. Obviously they think this "water deposit" charge is as ridiculous as we do; they've been careful to point out that it's Evergreen who are making the disproportionate water charge, not anyone else!

Do you realise that it all adds up to a £70,000 "water deposit"??

AND my son has been asked for a £1550 "electricity connection" charge BUT to actually get connected the electricity authority still have to be paid another £600!!

That's over £3000 just to get an "emergency" supply of water and electricity connected on a large housing site where full water and electric services are already in situ!

Contractual Obligations

The contract doesn't obligate us to pay more than the genuine costs of main services provision, specifically the apportioned charge for the fees Evergreen must pay for the Transformer Room and delivery of a meter (which hasn't been delivered). There is no reason at all for us to pay 716 NYL per meter to have each meter registered in Evergreen's name - the individual meters don't even exist and Evergreen will never, ever, be charged for a metered electricity supply to the individual flats - so why register the individual flats for metered electricity in Evergreen's name? The registration should be in the Resident's name from inception. Evergreen already have a Builders' Electric Supply for the site and there is no good reason for them to change that.

I've made this point to our solicitor and she is instructing Evergreen to strike out that meter registration charge; it's not a legal obligation on the purchaser but the apportioned Transformer fees are.

Water "deposit" Legal Obligations

To whatever extent the Water Authority requires a Deposit we are of course stuck with it, but i can see no legal justification for these outrageous multiple demands.

In consequence I have asked our solicitor to obtain full Actual Mains Supply Costs and Apportionment Figures, so that we can all work out exactly where each charge is coming from and eliminate any charges which are unnecessary or duplicated (such as "double" meter registration fees).

Culture Clash Confusion

In fairness, I don't believe that Evergreen are really trying to rip us off. There are a lot of new additional Mains Supply costs made by the authorities which they didn't know about either.

And we all know what it's like when a culture used to functioning in a certain way suddenly executes a volte face - everyone is thrown.

So I don't see any reason to be cross with Evergreen, and I'm not cross with them - but i do feel that we must all make an effective protest about duplicated and/or unnecessary fees. If we don't put our cards on the table right now, then Evergreen may feel justified in saying later "But look, we made these payments on your behalf and now you must pay us"

Whereas if we bring all the charges into the light and eliminate anything which isn't an actual legal obligation on the flat and villa owners, at the same time demanding accountability in those areas where there is a legal obligation to pay, then I think that will go a long way towards resolving the difficulties.