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A Plymouth woman on Universal Credit has been left in dire straits after being hit with a giant bill from her landlord towards the renovation of a block of flats where she lives.

Sheila Shepherd has been told by Plymouth Community Homes to cough up thousands towards the refurbishment of an ageing estate off busy Vauxhall Street, a stone's throw from the Barbican.

The 56-year-old has a long-term lease with the social housing provider on one of the apartments.

Woven into her deeds are covenants stipulating that she and other leaseholders in the building must pay a contribution to the freeholder if and when it decides to renovate.

But Sheila says she's panic stricken because PCH has requested as much as £12,198.68 from her - as well as thousands of pounds from other worried lessees - towards a major round of modernisation works on the flats, which are approaching completion. PCH says it works to help leaseholders who can't pay up straight away.

Contractors have been busy putting in a newly insulated roof and are repainting all of the outside and making other cosmetic improvements. Blue mesh remains wrapped around the front of the building, by Southside Street.

Unemployed Sheila, who has a string of health problems and is in receipt of welfare benefits, says there's no way she can pay.

She said she's been offered a monthly repayment plan, but even that is way out of her league.

She's even tried to negotiate by moving out of her home - where she's lived on and off since the 1970s - to somewhere smaller and in turn free up the housing stock.

But PCH don't want to know, she claims.

And she doesn't thinks it's fair people who rent directly off PCH don't have to pay a penny towards the improvements, whilst homeowners are hit hard in the pocket.

'They can't have something I don't have'

(Image: Miles O'Leary)

"I got this bill and I just can't pay it - none of us [who are leaseholders here], can," she said.

"I've phoned [PCH] up and said, even if I don't put my heating or electricity on, I still can't afford to pay.

"They said, we don't want you doing that - but I've told them, how on earth am I going to pay?

"They can't have something I don't have."

The headache comes after tenants in ageing social housing estates in Whitleigh and Teats Hill were landed with notices to pay for a wave of refurbishment works.

A cluster of neighbours living in the latter neighbourhood sought legal advice but were told nothing could be done because they had agreed when they signed contracts to its terms and conditions.

Sheila said PCH - which operates ex-council housing stock all over Plymouth - has sent her a form to determine which she is eligible for further financial help. But it's not helping the issue, she fumed.

"I only have a certain amount to spend each month - I don't smoke, don't drink, I don't even have Sky because I can't afford it," Sheila said.

"I have never smoked, not that I could even afford to.

"There's nothing I can give up in order to pay it, except the essentials."

Sheila told how she'd worked all her life from the age of 15 up until the point when she had to look after her elderly parents a few years back.

"I gave up everything, and sadly, my mum died, two years ago," Sheila explained.

"I haven't been able to work since then. It's not my fault that I am not working.

(Image: Miles O'Leary)

"I can't do more for the state than that I have already done.

"If I had put my mum into a home it would have cost the state £5,000 a month."

Another elderly neighbour, who was one of the first occupants of Vauxhall Street, has been told to pay within five years.

But she is in her 80s - and doesn't even know if she'll ever get to settle her charge.

Plus she didn't even realise PCH were responsible for the outside of her home, and assumed she actually owned it.

"I don't know what I would be paying for," she said. "I don't think there is a lot we can do.

"It doesn't feel like we have much of a voice," she added.

PCH has previously denied refurbishing blocks in strategic locations in the run up to 2020 so that they look visually appealing when visitors come to visit during Mayflower 400.

Plymouth Community Homes - we want to support leaseholders who feel they can't pay

(Image: Miles O'Leary)

Sheila is one of ten leaseholders in Vauxhall Street who have been lumbered with the refurb bill.

"I am even willing to sell my flat back to them," she said. "If they moved me into a one bed place, because this is a two bed, I am willing to sell it back and at least then they will have a two bed property to sell back on.

"But they turned around to me and said, we don't buy property back."

In response, PCH chiefs say they hope to work with individuals who are worried about their bills.

Sue Shaw, director of homes, neighbourhoods and regeneration said: "We recognise that some leaseholders may be concerned that payment may be difficult - and we will work together with them individually to help.

"We have a dedicated Leasehold Team, and part of their role is to work closely with leaseholders around arrangements to pay their share of repair and modernisation costs for the exterior of their buildings.

"While leases require that a leaseholder pays a bill within 21 days, we offer far more generous timescales, so that the owners of leasehold flats can agree reasonable repayment plans with us.

"We will be happy to discuss the options with any leaseholder and would ask that anyone with concerns contacts the Leasehold Team on 0808 230 6500 so that we can find the right solution for them."

Leaseholders 'facing staggering bills for ex-council flats'

Problems in the leasehold sector have gripped the property sector in Britain for years.

The Government has talked of rolling out major reform but as of yet have yet to introduce new laws protecting the rights of tenants.

One disgruntled national leaseholder went public this month about the fact they were quoted more than £24,000 by their freeholder to have a new heating system installed.

Artist Michelle Baharier was even told she would have to cough up £2,000 to have her door painted on the Gilesmead estate, in Camberwell, south London.

(Image: Miles O'Leary)

The 56-year-old has been on the receiving end of 'eye-watering' bills for maintenance since owning her property in the communal build, she claimed in a candid interview.

Sebastian O’Kelly of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership says he gets three or four queries a week from leaseholders facing huge bills for major works, with most bills in the region of £15,000 to £25,000.

Ground rent and unregulated permission fees imposed by third party providers are just some of the other issues rocking the leasehold market right now.