As a resident and leaseholder of Greenwich Millennium Village in London (Devine, Galvin, and McGill House – Block 301), I am writing to formally protest the continued and significant increases in service charges imposed by the managing agent - Rendall & Rittner Limited - since I purchased my property and moved in on 22 December 2021. These escalating charges are neither justified by the actual costs incurred nor by the quality of services provided.

At the time of my flat reservation in 2021, an estimated service charge was provided. However, by the 2025–2026 financial year, my service charge is projected to increase by 89.3% compared to that original estimate, reaching an estimated £7,500 per annum (£5.22 per square foot - see Note 1 for details on calculation and reference). This is an excessive cost for a block that lacks facilities such as a gym, which might otherwise justify higher service or maintenance fees.

The proposed 2026 budget for Block 301, issued by Rendall & Rittner Limited on 26 July 2025, includes significant and, in my view, unjustifiable increases in both Estate and Block schedules.

While the Estate has been growing and it is anticipated to require a larger investment - as seen through the increased contribution to Southern Way (GLA) - some of the proposed Estate charges raise a concern, such as:

1. Staff Training and Staff Introduction Fee (£14,400): A cost that should reasonably be absorbed by a large managing agent such as Rendall & Rittner, given their extensive network of trained staff. Furthermore, there appears to be duplication of similar charges within the block-specific costs.
2. Estate Contracts, Maintenance, and Service Costs (68% increase): The budget includes numerous ambiguous or questionable items such as: Estate vehicle (£832), Winter gritting (a high charge of £4,400), Litter picking (£8,400 - surprisingly, seems a charge non-existent before), Landscape planning (£12,000 shouldn't be required due to need to follow the developer's design, also a cost that is in addition to the existing £75,200 allocated for landscape maintenance, which in itself is rather poor leaving dead plants and overgrown hedges to be a distraction for any new sales in the area), Mechanical & electrical plant maintenance (£17,200), Water hygiene (£3,600).

In the Block schedule, the increases are more substantial with lack of detail supporting that:

1. Electricity (£58,989): Historically rising out of line with the market trends and without any evidence of offset by the solar energy acquired through the roof panels.
2. Building and Lifts Insurance (£102,560): An amount that is disproportionately high for a modern, four-year-old building of 136 flats and 6 lifts and significantly exceeds alternative quotes obtained independently by leaseholders. Moreover, this figure includes a 10% fee retained by Rendall & Rittner for “services to secure cover,” which appears excessive and unjustified.
3. Management and Professional Fees (£71,340): Including Audit fee (£2,578), Health & Safety statutory inspections fee (£9,232), Management fee (£49,772), Building Safety Act (BSA) fee (£6,840 - despite a separate budget line for BSA costs of £5,397), Other professional fees (£2,917). These fees are vaguely described and lack transparent justification.
4. Reserve Fund Contribution (£61,500): Representing a dramatic increase from £8,250 in the prior year, without a clear or detailed rationale.

Moreover, these financial concerns are compounded by the fact that formal budgets, audited account statements and service charge demands have frequently been issued late, or in some instances, have not been issued at all. Such delays undermine transparency and severely erode leaseholders’ trust in the competence and integrity of the current managing agent.

Numerous residents, including myself, have examined previous budgets and service charge demands and have repeatedly raised questions regarding the necessity and allocation of various costs. To date, these inquiries have not resulted in satisfactory explanations or detailed cost breakdowns from Rendall & Rittner. This lack of clarity has been further exacerbated by significant staff turnover within Rendall & Rittner’s property management team, with four property managers serving our block over the past 3.5 years. Such turnover has resulted in a loss of institutional knowledge and delays in addressing longstanding issues.

Greenwich is not merely our address; it is our community. We deserve a standard of financial management grounded in transparency, honesty, and accountability, ensuring that any charges levied genuinely contribute to the maintenance and welfare of our shared environment. We call for a fair, evidence-based assessment of future expenses, supported by transparent and audited accounts, rather than relying on inflated projections and inconsistent documentation.

Therefore, I urge my fellow leaseholders, community members, and concerned residents to join me in demanding clear answers and accountability from Rendall & Rittner Limited. Please sign this petition to express your demand for:

• Timely issuance of formal budgets and service charge demands as required under lease agreements and legislation.
• A detailed explanation of the proposed budget and all significant cost increases.
• Full transparency regarding the allocation of funds and services rendered.
• Publication of audited accounts for the past two accounting years.
• Justification of all management, professional, and insurance fees.
  A comprehensive review of all budgeted costs to ensure fairness and value for money.

Together, we can hold our management company accountable and secure a fair and equitable outcome for all residents of our block.

Note 1: Estimated service charge of £7,500 per annum is calculated for a 1,431 sqft flat in the said block using the Service Charge Budget Year Ending March 2026 and the latest known proportions shared by Rendall & Rittner for the previous budget year.

Note 2: This petition has been shared to the residents and leaseholders of the Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV) East area (with an ask to spread the word further), hence support and signatures are expected from a wider community, specifically other blocks on GMV East. The respective charges and increases in other blocks may vary from the ones quoted above.