If the price of an upgrade seems excessive, who can I appeal to for assistance?
For both tenants and flat owners the property manager should act reasonably, and the costs of works should be reasonable. If residents in England and Wales feel that this is not the case, leaseholders may have recourse to a Leaseholder Valuation Tribunal to challenge the decision or proposed course of action and for Tenants the Rent Assessment Panel.
There are no grants available to cover the costs of any upgrade works for public or private properties.
The cost of the infrastructure works that are recharged or recoverable either through the rent or services charges to residents are covered as an eligible element under the Housing Benefit regulations. So, residents who get help with their rent and charges through Housing Benefit can get help with these expenses.
There is some help for people eligible for the Help Scheme but this does not include any costs associated with a communal aerial upgrade.
