Residents of a central London estate have complained they may have to pay up to £66,000 towards a new heating system.
Homeowners on the Lillington Estate in Pimlico have faced skyrocketing costs for repairs at the historic site.
One resident told the Standard that bills appear to have increased by six times what they would expect to pay for repairs and services at the estate.
Ernest Strafford, who has owned a one-bedroom flat since 2010, said: “We had a bill for £36,000 to tarmac a piece of car park outside one of our buildings.
“We looked into it and (believe) that bill should have been about six grand. What is concerning is why these bills have been so inflated.”
But Westminster City Council has said that the service charges have gone up due to lagging bills which can increase costs for residents.
More than 3,000 homes are currently heated by the oldest district heating system in the UK in Pimlico, including those on the Lillington Estate.
Originally the dated system used waste heat from the nearby Battersea Power Station and the heat was pumped through a tunnel under the Thames to be distributed to homes.
But, Westminster City Council has warned extensive work is needed to ensure that the system is affordable and reliable in the future.
The council told the Standard the heating system is “no longer fit for purpose” adding that frequent leaks have led to extensive repair works.
The Sunday Times reports under the Westminster city council plan, some or all of the homes would be moved onto a low-carbon “heat network”.
If so, the owner of a one-bedroom flat or studio home could be asked to pay around £40,000 while some four-bedroomed homes will be asked for around £66,000.
Mr Strafford told the Standard he may have to pay between £35,000 and £40,000 towards the new heating system despite the fact “you could go and get an electric boiler for five or six grand”.
He continued: “We are getting these crazy service charges. It’s doubled and it’s really inflating but actually, our service and what we’re getting is just getting worse”.
The resident also complained that “charges are building and building” and that neighbours in Charlwood House on the Lillington Estate face two service charges, one from Westminster City Council as the freeholder and another from A2Dominion as the leaseholder.
Mr Strafford added: “This is 2024. This is the second-richest council in the country. People shouldn’t be living like this.
“The council should be dealing with their situations immediately and yet they are not. They are struggling to get their head around it.”
‘Boiling hot water flooded our homes weeks ago’
It’s still pouring pic.twitter.com/j81kg2PwBp
— Ernest (@ErnestStrafford) October 22, 2024
The rise in charges is the latest issue on the Lillington Estate. Last month residents complained about boiling water flooding into homes and leaving residents stuck in their hallways.
Mr Strafford added the estate has fallen into a “state of disrepair” and warned it is a “huge health and safety risk”.
He told the Standard: “We had boiling hot water flooding our homes two weeks ago... we have raw sewage in our car parks.”
He added: “The council won’t even have an open discussion with us... For us as residents, it’s really concerning because we need to know what is happening and if safety protocols have been put in place properly.”
He also highlighted how a 104-year-old veteran who was living on the estate became trapped in his home for weeks at a time when the lifts in his tower block broke down.
“The disrepair has been going on for 15 years and has just got worse and worse,” the resident added.
Westminster City Council told the Standard the £66,000 figure quoted for some residents was the highest estimate at the time, adding it was for the largest property on one of the estates.
Westminster councillor Liza Begum, cabinet member for Housing said: “The Pimlico District Heating is old and no longer fit for purpose. Frequent leaks on the network are causing disruption for our residents and lead to expensive repairs.
“The system needs to be replaced and we're working towards an efficient, reliable and sustainable solution. The figures we've shared are early projections as part of our commitment to engage with local residents.
“The final proposal will be subject to detailed design, tender and consultation. We are also working hard on the funding model to maximise external grants and consider how best to fund residual costs, including managing impact on our residents.
“We understand the impact that these costs will have, but it is our responsibility to address a legacy of issues of an ageing system and eliminate the threat of hugely disruptive leaks.
“The council is taking rapid steps to address previous underinvestment and prioritise resident’s needs. We will take every opportunity to minimise the costs to residents and we remain committed to ongoing and open engagement with our communities.”
