'A mighty triumph' - Harborough residents win their battle over 'fleeceholding' fees on their housing estate

Gutsy campaigners are now running their own estate in Market Harborough after winning a fierce ‘fleeceholding’ fees battle.

Outraged residents on the Farndon Fields development launched the bitter fight to stop paying “extortionate hidden charges” at the end of last year.

And the indomitable battling band of fed-up householders are now celebrating a landmark victory after management agency Chamonix Estates backed off and handed them control.

Delighted Lara Raffaelli, 53, has spearheaded the titanic mission to “end the fleeceholding maintenance fee nightmare” from her home in Angell Drive.

Thrilled Lara told the Harborough Mail: “We are absolutely ecstatic to get over the line and take over our own estate.

“We have had to fight hard – and this has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

“But all that counts now is that we have won and we have seen the last of Chamonix Estates.”

She added: “The only shame is that we have all been caught up in the middle of the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

“We had hoped and planned to stage a huge street party.

“But now we’ll just have to put it off until these dark days are over and we can toast our mighty triumph properly.”

South African-born Lara said they had been due to hold an extraordinary general meeting of Farndon Fields Management Company Ltd on Tuesday March 24.

“That obviously had to be called off because of the current health emergency.

“We offered to stage it online and got ourselves fired up for the showdown.

“But Chamonix agreed to step aside more or less immediately and end operations on Tuesday March 31,” said the home-based education editor.

“We were surprised but clearly very pleased.

“So we have now set up a committee of six directors to look after both phases of Farndon Fields – about 87 residents altogether.”

Lara said they are now waiting to be given the existing funds paid by local householders to Sandon-based Chamonix Estates.

“We are also hoping to be forwarded the details of all the residents on the estate.

“The trouble is that we are desperate to open a client deposit account for people to pay into and have got nowhere so far,” said the formidable activist.

“We have approached Barclays, Lloyds, Nat West, Santander, HSBC and Nationwide.

“We’ve asked them all for urgent help and pleaded our case.

“But they haven’t wanted to know amid this heartbreaking virus crisis.

“At the moment we are having to fork out for repairs or essential maintenance out of our own pockets.

“So I’d like to make a personal plea to local banks and building societies – please get in touch and help us.

“We have all put so much hard work, effort and time in to winning control of our own destiny here.

“All of us six directors have been registered at Companies House.

“Now we just need to set up our own dedicated account and access fees paid to Chamonix so we can charge on into a much brighter, braver future for all of us.”

Tenacious Lara said they had had a “brilliant reaction” from fellow householders since replacing Chamonix.

“The response has been unanimously positive – everyone’s just so overjoyed that we are stepping in to take over.

“We’d like to thank councillors Peter James and Julie Simpson for backing us and the Harborough Mail for telling our story.

“As well as managing Farndon Fields much more efficiently and competently we’ll boost the Harborough economy by using local tradesmen and women to carry out repairs and maintain our estate,” said Lara, who’s been dishing out about £600-a-year in “hidden” fees.

“We all live here – we’ll put our heart and soul into looking after people and fighting for their best interests.

“We are in touch all the time on our new WhatsApp group and online and we can’t wait to get started.”

She said they are one of the first anti-fleeceholding campaign groups in the country to succeed.

“We are very proud of what we’ve achieved because it’s been very stressful and full on at times,” said Lara.

“But we’ve got there in the end.

“And we’d be only too happy to support other campaigners fighting their own fleeceholding battles because everyone deserves to be in control of their own affairs.

“We have built up a real bank of knowledge and expertise as well as a special insight over the last few months.

“So anyone out there seeking help – please feel free to pick our brains!”

Anyone on Farndon Fields phase one who would like to contact their new estate directors should email: [email protected]

If you live on phase two then you should contact them at: [email protected] (the word committee does only have one 'e' in this address).