Elderly residents living at a retirement housing complex in Tenby run by Pembrokeshire County Council are in fear that they might be driven out due to them being unable to meet increasingly steep rises in service charges imposed by the Local Authority.

Residents Joanne Jenkins and Lorraine Hopley along with others living at the County Council’s sheltered housing accommodation Tyssul Court situated on Park Road say the accommodation is already suffering due to a ‘lack of maintenance’, and state it is a real kick in the teeth to be asked to pay further charges.

“The block of 21 flats are sheltered housing, owned and supposedly maintained by Pembrokeshire County Council,” explained Joanne.

“We pay rent to PCC and service charges which includes communal areas electricity, a small laundry room, wardens and other costs.

“Tyssul Court is for elderly residents living over three floors, but we are already suffering from a lack of facilities, i.e. no lifts, one washing machine and dryer between 21 properties - which means some of us have installed our own washing machines and dryers to save carrying washing up and down stairs!

“This increases our electricity charges, so in general we feel we are already somewhat dissatisfied with facilities provided for the elderly, and as such have requested a review and meeting with members of the County Council so as many of our residents, who are physically able to, can attend to voice their concerns,” she continued.

Residents have now contacted county councillor for the South ward Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall with their concerns over the proposed steep rise in service charges applied to the property.

“Obviously, we’re all extremely concerned and after speaking with other tenants here, everyone is feeling the same,” continued Joanne.

“To our understanding so far, we won’t be expected to have these changes implemented until the beginning of July and so feel now is the time to speak up about our concerns.

“According to Government Legislature, as informed by John Quenault of PCC, referencing a law passed in 2016 - the County Council is able to increase the service charges. However, the Welsh and UK Government websites state: ‘Government capped social housing rent at 7% and encourage Housing Associations and Councils to limit service charges to 7% too (not legislation).’

“However, our heating contribution charges have been raised six times per calendar month! Tyssul Court is sheltered housing accommodation and as such, the majority of tenants are over 60 years of age. The majority are in receipt of either State Pension, Private Pension or are on State Benefits, therefore one of the more vulnerable groups of society.

“During 2022, where tenants had water charges included in their rent amount, the County Council informed us by letter that we would now have to pay our water bill direct to Welsh Water.

“We currently find ourselves paying water charges at on average approximately £30 pcm, where previously the amount was £13.20. The Authority dropped the rent by this amount, but we found ourselves paying an extra £17 pcm.

“Our previous heating contributions were £16.18 per fortnight which have now been multiplied by six to £97.60 pcm, minus the original £32.36 pcm, that is an increase of £64.72 pcm.

“When you add together the water increase of £17 plus the heating contribution of the proposed £64.72, most of us are alarmed to find that the Government legislature has therefore allowed an almost double increase in our rent as this is allocated to service charges.

“As previously stated, it is down to the discretion of the County Council to keep service charge rises to approximately 7% - but clearly this percentage is well above 7%!

“Knowing that the other social housing residents in Pembrokeshire have on average an increase of £10 per week on their rent, this has made us feel that we are being penalised,” she continued.

“We understand through discussion with John Quentault that these proposed charges are an annual bill for the property, split up over 48 weeks (due to the four weeks free rent). However, in reality during the hot summer months, we are paying almost £100 for the privilege of being able to turn our thermostats off at the wall!”

Joanne pointed to other issues too at the complex, when residents had a ‘near miss’ back in 2020 according to the fire service who were called out, when the boiler tank overheated and all residents had to be evacuated.

“It was repaired but in 2021/22 they put a new system in and new radiators in all the flats, and we were told by the County Council that there would not be any additional costs to residents, but a lot of us think they are now trying to recoup costs by increasing the service charges!” added Joanne, stating that the meeting is due to take place on June 23.