// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
'An £8k service charge left me unable to pay bills'
Callum Maddern says he is still straddled with debt after facing a huge increase in his bills
A housing association has defended the charges faced by its leaseholders after many complained of huge bill increases to pay for maintenance.
Callum Maddern, who lives in Bath, said he had seen his service charge increase six-fold to more than £8,000 per year after Curo said vital work needed doing on his accommodation block.
"I didn't have enough money to put the heating on," he said. "I had water on my sink and coffee tables that was freezing. I'd be lying in bed and I could see my breath."
Curo, which says it does not make any money from the contributions, said it was "trying to work with residents to prepare them for these bills".
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When Maddern bought his flat in 2023, the annual service charge was about £1,300 per year. He was told there was £5,000 in what is known as a sinking fund to cover any necessary works.
But the following year, he received a bill for £8,000 to go towards fire safety work and new windows.
"Originally I thought there was some kind of mistake," he said. But when he queried the charge, Curo confirmed it was accurate.
Maddern describes "constant delays" in his attempts to reach out to Curo and negotiate.