Jess Brown-Fuller calls out exploitative service charges at managed estates

Jess Brown-Fuller, MP for Chichester, has called out the service charges and standards of service delivered by estate management companies in Chichester constituency. Having been inundated with cases from constituents, Jess believes the issue is widespread and has moved beyond a few isolated incidents. 

The fees charged by management companies are intended to cover the cost of maintaining communal spaces, but Jess has received numerous reports of costs increasing significantly while promised work is not being completed. 

One group of residents in Southbourne Fields wrote to Jess to say they are charged £4,000 a year, double the rate of Council Tax, and see very little in return. Another constituent from Shopwyke Lakes told Jess that when they signed their contract, they were quoted a very reasonable fee of less than £10 a month for the management of green spaces. By 2023 it was over £60 a month and has continued to increase.  

Liberal Democrats, including Jess, have long campaigned on this issue and have held meetings with senior figures from estate management companies, raising individual cases from across their constituencies. 

Jess recently raised the issue in the House of Commons during Business Questions, calling on the Leader of the House to make time for a debate on the issue.   

Jess Brown-Fuller said: 

“Since being elected, I have been inundated with emails and surgery appointments from rightly angry constituents, who are being slapped with exponentially rising service charges by management agents.” 

“These fees have crept in over the last twenty years and have now become the industry norm. Affectionately termed ‘fleecehold’, these estate management fees cover the maintenance of communal spaces within new-build estates, including public facilities. In my view, these service charges are a worse form of Council Tax, they pay for local services delivered by companies that are not elected and not accountable to residents.” 

“Many residents face significant difficulties when appealing these charges and are left with the only option of going through costly court proceedings. The government must introduce stronger regulations to prevent this from continuing.”