People living at Dundee’s City Quay have formed a residents’ committee to tackle their factors over fees which they have branded ”outrageous”.
Earlier this month, The Courier revealed that residents on the city’s waterfront development are facing a near 75% increase in their factor fees due to a dispute over billing for maintenance of the harbour area around their homes, as well as a rise in building insurance premiums.
Homeowners in the development will see their monthly fees jump from around £80 to just over £140 next month.
The price hike is partly due to occupants being hit with a double yearly charge for maintenance of the harbour after a mix-up with the timing of the yearly invoice from the Port Authority to factors Ross and Liddell.
Engineer Mike Baxter (32), who owns a two-bedroom apartment at South Victoria Dock, has now formed a residents’ committee to push for greater dialogue with the factors.
”It’s just ridiculous,” he said. ”Our bill’s gone up £60 a month, which is outrageous.
”We are now full steam ahead to get a committee together. The option to get quotes under competitive pricing would also be a bonus.”
He added: ”I accept if there’s a bill to pay there’s a bill to pay, but why didn’t they tell us about the Port Authority?”
A spokesman for Ross and Liddell said the company looked forward to working with the residents’ committee.
He said: ”We adopt a fully transparent billing system for all clients and wrote to Mr Baxter on May 23 to provide a breakdown on his annual charges, including the harbour maintenance costs and a rise in insurance premiums.
”Residents are also responsible for charges relating to an ongoing repair and maintenance programme, following a period of continued vandalism within the development.
”All repairs are delivered through an approved contractor list, with major works and costs being approved by the proprietors before instruction.
”We now look forward to establishing a strong relationship with the newly formed group in partnership with the other stakeholders within the development.”