Residents of Page High Estate in Wood Green have been told by Sanctuary Housing that their annual bills will be rising by more than £1,500, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Page High Estate and (inset) Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet has criticised the bill hike — Page High Estate and (inset) Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet, who has criticised the bill hike

A Wood Green housing association tenant has called a 195% rise to his estate’s heating bills “exorbitant” after residents were told it would increase by over £1,500 annually.

Adrian Chapman, a resident of Page High Estate run by Sanctuary Housing, has called for a “significant reduction” to the charge.

Sanctuary Housing, which manages more than 10,000 homes across the UK, will increase heating bills across the 92-home estate by £30.33 per week, which equates to £1577.16 per year.

Built in the 1970s to provide social housing, Adrian said it seemed the estate’s operators were “more interested in making money through building properties than looking after its existing tenants”.

Particularly worried for those receiving Universal Credit, he said: “They will have to find this £30.33 each week out of their already meagre benefits, what are they going to do?

“Some people will be faced with the prospect of cutting down on their food, going to foodbanks, or getting behind on bills or their rent. It’s appalling, this is during the cost-of-living crisis.”

He said most of the apartments on the estate were single bedroom, with a few two bedrooms and some bedsits.

Sanctuary Housing has said the increase was due to “many” of its long-term energy deals coming to an end, and customers had been “protected” to this point, but the impact was “unavoidable”.

The increase is set to come into place in July, but some residents, depending on their tenancy agreement, have already begun paying the much higher rate.

Adrian said it was particularly concerning given the “ongoing heating problems” that “numerous tenants” dealt with and called for those who were already paying to be rebated.

There were persistent problems with the intercom, dim lighting, and the cost of the service charge, Adrian explained, and on top of that Sanctuary was “difficult to get hold of”.

He said: “When I moved in there in the mid-90s we had a housing officer who really kept an eye on the place, but now they have several other estates in London to look after, we hardly ever see them.”

A spokesperson for Sanctuary said: “For several years our customers have been protected from the significant price increases experienced by most homes nationally because we have been able to purchase energy in advance.

“Unfortunately, many of our long-term energy deals have ended this year leading to an unavoidable increase in our service charges.

“We can reassure our customers that any future reduction in the energy prices we pay will be reflected in their charges and we would also encourage any customers with financial concerns to contact us directly so we can offer support.”

Adrian has also raised the issue with Haringey Council, which has shown sympathy for residents.

Council leader Peray Ahmet said: “I was concerned to hear from tenants at Page High who are faced with significant increases to their heating bills at a time when the cost of living is already putting pressure on people’s finances.

“As local ward councillor I’ll be urgently taking this matter up with Sanctuary Housing.”

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