‘Residents paying hefty estate fees’
A SENIOR Wexford County Council official has advised housing estate residents concerned about paying high management fees to attend an AGM and propose a vote to reduce the charges.
Director of Services and Assistant County Manager Tony Larkin was responding to a question from Labour councillor George Lawlor who said he has been contacted by some residents seeking advice on the necessity of paying fees.
‘We have a lot of private estates around the district where residents have to pay management fees which are quite hefty and the amount of maintenance work being carried out is minimal. Can the officials shed some light on this issue?’ he said.
‘Is it a contractual arrangement? Are they legally bound by contracts and would there be repercussions if they stopped?
‘Are people free to walk away from management fees and form a residents’ association to look after grass-cutting, etc?’
Mr. Larkin replied that the setting up of management companies on the completion of an housing estate used to be Government policy, with the local authority making it a condition of planning, but then Government policy changed and the council stopped requiring it and no longer enforces the stipulation.
‘These are limited companies with a board of directors and residents are members who can take an active role in how they are run and in this way they can bring down management fees,’ he said.
‘I would be reluctant to say they should stop paying the fees as they would need to find out what the money is going towards, perhaps its a waste treatment plant or the upkeep of green spaces.’
‘Apartment complexes are different because fees go to the upkeep and maintenance of facilities such as lifts and that would have to continue.
‘If more detail than that is required, I would have to give it more serious thought’, he added.
Cllr. Lawlor said he was aware of one estate where residents were paying €500 and there are no lifts or waste treatment plants involved.
‘When it was Government policy, we made it a condition of planning so we do have some responsibility to advise people as to what course of action they can take’.