ELDERLY residents are battling to stop their landlord bringing in new charges which see tenants annual bills rise by almost £500.

Aster Communities is behind plans to introduce a £9.50 weekly charge (£494 per year) for an enhanced housing management scheme at Romsey's Wakeford Court.

Resident say the scheme - which includes health and safety visits, inspections of specialist equipment, testing fire and smoke alarms and organis¬ing day-to-day repairs - mirrors many services that are already in place and included in tenants weekly bills.

The misery for residents' does¬n't stop there either as Aster has already started billing tenants for a telecare alarm service which was previously included in their rents.

Outraged residents are challenging Aster's proposals and chairman of Wakeford Court res¬idents panel Peter Penrose, said: “We are going to fight this all the way. I think what they are trying to do may be illegal and I've now taken it up with Romsey MP Caroline Nokes.”

Mr Penrose says residents shouldn't have to pay for a service they don't want.

He said the proposed increases will see average bills which include rent and service charges rise by nine per cent to £136 per week.

Aster has blamed Government funding cuts to Hampshire County Council for the move.

A spokesperson explained that Aster no longer received funding from the county council for the “floating support service”.

“To ensure our customers can remain living safely in their own homes, we're currently consult¬ing on the introduction of an enhanced housing management service to help them with hous¬ing-related tasks from April 1, 2015,” said the spokesman.

Aster says a housing services coordinator will visit Wakeford Court at least one day each week to find out if there are any hous¬ing related issues and this will include repairs, costs and any problems in the neighbourhood.

The coordinator will also man¬age security and health and safe¬ty systems at the sheltered hous¬ing site in Cressey Road.

Aster estimates that the pro¬posed new enhanced housing service will be £9.50 a week.

Mr Penrose says it's unfair to impose a new charge for work that should be included in their rent and existing charges.

“We've a lot of issues over repairs here that Aster hasn't resolved. We've been without a mobility toilet on the ground floor for over three years and other outstanding work hasn't been done,” he said.

Mr Pensrose added: “I believe what Aster is doing is illegal and they are blam¬ing HCC for having to introduce the charges.

“Aster is threatening residents with eviction if they don't agree to new terms and conditions, but they are not in residents' tenancy agreements. They are breaking all the rules under the sun.”

Aster denies tenants will be evicted if they don't pay up.

However, a spokesman said: “Customers who want to remain living at Wakeford Court will need to have the new service if it's introduced. We've offered to support anyone who doesn't wish to receive it with a move elsewhere, including paying all reasonable removal costs.

“TVBC have also agreed any customers who want to move will be given priority on the transfer register. No one has been threatened with eviction if they don't agree to the proposed changes.”

New telecare charges mean that residents' have to pay out an addi¬tional £60 every three months.

Aster said this was also due to public funding being withdrawn.

“We had no alternative but to introduce a small charge,” concluded the spokesman.

An irate resident who did not wish to be named said: “It's absolutely disgraceful. Where does Aster think we are going to get all the money to pay for these increases? It's a case of pay up or get out,”