Letter: “New Milton landlord lumbering tenants with bill for thousands of pounds of work.”

As the resident in a fairly new block of flats in New Milton I, along with all tenants here and in other apartment blocks, recently received a notice from our managing agents that a mandatory fire assessment and update had to be carried out with some urgency.

As regards our particular development, the survey has now been completed and a quotation of several thousand pounds received to carry out the work required – the cost to be borne by us tenants!

As we understand it, the developers don’t wish to contribute in any way since the building was erected in line with fire regulations applicable at that time.

But surely, as our landlords, they have a continuing responsibility to maintain what is still their property in up-to-date order?

This has all come as an unpleasant shock and concern to us elderly residents as it will, I feel sure, to all others living in apartments having to go this exercise.

I’ve not seen any media comments about such a fire assessment being necessary country-wide or this area in particular.

Of course, we all want to feel as safe as possible in our own homes but should the ongoing cost be wholly down to us tenants? After all, one of the reasons why I opted for living in a flat was to avoid any responsibility for maintaining a building!

Name and address supplied