Fury as council clerical error sends residents’ cleaning bills soaring

Khalida and Salim Mughal were already struggling with the cost of living crisis before being hit by Brent council’s soaring cleaning bill. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

Thousands of residents in a London borough have seen cleaning costs for their estates increase up to fivefold in the space of three years.

After lobbying by homeowners and tenants, Brent council has been forced into a U-turn following a “clerical error” which saw almost 130 estates run by the local authority being charged too much for cleaning.