SOCIAL landlord Isos has come under fire for demanding extra cash from its tenants to look after public open spaces.

For around half the residents on the former council estates which make up the bulk of the Isos estate have bought their homes – and they pay nothing towards the upkeep of grassed areas and hedges.

Isos tenants received a letter last month saying that from April, they will be charged an additional £1.58 per week for the grounds maintenance service.

The letter stated: “Up until now, this service had been provided free of charge for residents in Northumberland, while in other areas, Isos residents have paid for the service via a service charge.

“From April, we are proposing to introduce a service charge in Northumberland to help cover the costs of the grounds maintenance service we provide.”

The letter goes on to point out those people who claim Housing Benefit will be able to claim the service charge back from the county council.

The new charge was condemned by an 86-year-old tenant, who receives no benefits for his home in Corbridge.

He said:“ I reckon about 80-90 per cent of people living on the Milkwell, Synclen, Chantry and the Riggs estates are home owners, and will not be paying this levy.

”How can Isos impose these charges, and take this money off tenants only? We rent payers should say no way.”

A tenant from Hexham added: “This is completely unfair, as the grass cutting over the last few years has been terrible, with complaints from all over the district. I have never seen them touch the hedges or shrubs.

“Why should it be left to the tenants only to pay this money, when the owner occupiers don’t pay a penny?”

A spokesman for the Labour group on Northumberland County Council described the suggestion that tenants should seek an increase in Housing Benefit to cover the additional charge as “outrageous.”

The spokesman said: “That’s not going to happen and Isos are now effectively asking their tenants to pay for the grass areas which are enjoyed by their owner occupiers using the council tax payer.”

Council leader Coun. Grant Davey said: “At a time when the Government is slashing county council budgets and people are feeling the squeeze, the decision by Isos to increase the Housing Benefit bill by the backdoor is wrong and another ‘stealth tax’ which will hit council tax payers unfairly.

“Isos own the assets and is trying to get Northumberland’s tax payers to pick up the bill for its asset.

“While we understand that the government is hammering housing associations, this isn’t the way to respond. Isos is seeking to make life tougher for its tenants and council tax payers alike.”

In response to the criticism, Isos said it had a duty to maintain the grassed areas, shrubs and trees on the Northumberland streets where its tenants lived.

A spokesman said: “This is a legacy of when our homes were owned by district councils. Up until now, the grounds maintenance service has been provided free of charge for residents in Northumberland whilst across Tyneside, Wearside and County Durham, Isos residents have paid for the service via a service charge.

”So as from April this year, we are proposing to introduce a small service charge. We believe this is a matter of fairness, so we will be treating Isos residents in different areas the same, and tenants who benefit from the grounds maintenance service will contribute to the cost of providing it.”

He added that Isos was not able to charge owner occupiers who lived on streets where its contractors look after the grounds maintenance.

Everyone who received Housing Benefit would be able to claim for the cost of the service charge.

He added: “While the charge will be introduced at the same time as a one per cent rent cut, the two measures are not related. Isos had already decided to introduce the service charge before the Government announced rent cuts for all housing association properties.

“As a not-for-profit landlord, any charges for residents simply reflect the costs that we incur for the services we provide.”

The charge covers only grounds maintenance operations, and will not be used to catch up on general repair and painting of garages.