It pays to shop around
The VAHT is in the process of a massive improvement programme for the benefit of its tenants who are enjoying new front doors, kitchens, bathrooms etc. With so many homes being updated the VAHT claims it has buying power, that is, to reduce costs by buying in bulk. With this buying power the Trust is offering services to its leaseholders at preferential and favourable rates, here are just a few examples: Gas boiler servicing Earlier in January Ian Silver was quoted as offering provisional prices for gas servicing: £88 for a standard annual service or £172 annual service to include all parts and labour when bought from VAHT contractors. This raised quite a few eyebrows when many in the group have recently paid on average £50 for gas servicing, with one as low as £30. Front doors More recently, we have been keen to learn of the deals that the Trust will give its leaseholders on new front doors. Keith Nials, LRG vice chair, has been offered a door with a modest price tag of £1490.05! And more alarm bells were raised as the quotation contained no 'admin fee', which seems to be a trend with VAHT billing and could be up to 15% on top. To put this into perspective, one LRG member had a UPVC white door with window, chrome finishing and all the fancy locking features fitted by a local supplier for just under £1000. Buying power Now, we would like to think that these are cost prices, given that the Trust is a not-for-profit organisation, but moreover we are concerned that the Trust itself may be paying over the odds and creating higher overheads for itself when buying for its tennants, overheads of which leaseholders ultimately pay a percentage. What's more is it's slightly insulting when this is being sold to us as a benefit of the Trust's buying power when the savings that can be made elsewhere are so significant. We hope that the Trust does not think that leaseholders are made of money simply because they have bought their homes. So, with this evidence the buying power is clearly still in leaseholders' hands, and unless you're one of the unfortunate few whose lease dictates that you may only have Trust issued windows and doors, we strongly urge leaseholders to shop around a few local suppliers for some quotations. Please also be kind enough to let us know your findings.
