Scott Kay, director of asset management and maintenance, said repairs being made under the Decent Homes Programme would make homes windproof and watertight.

Homeowners are expected to pay 6.25 per cent of the repair bill but he said improving the condition of their home would add to its value.
John Downes is the third homeowner to come forward to the Herald saying the charge is unfair.

He and his wife are disputing a bill of £13,500 — part of a pricetag of £215,000 for 16 flats — for their two-bedroom flat in Kerry Court in Westerham Road, Eastbourne.

He said the cost could not be justified but Mr Kay said the requirement to pay had been written into homeowners' contracts.

He said, "If you buy a property it is your responsibility to have it thoroughly surveyed and to be aware that repairs will be inevitable at some point.

"With any home ownership you must budget for future maintenance."

Mr Downes believes some of the work is unnecessary, such as putting up guard rails around the roof, but Mr Kay said all works were needed, some to fix existing problems, some to prevent greater damage through neglect.

The company director said Eastbourne Homes could actually charge people less than private homeowners would pay through doing all the necessary work at once over a three-year period.

Works are being carried out across the country under the government's Decent Homes Programme and some householders with homes already in good condition will have little or nothing to pay.

Mr Downes was told he should expect to pay £7,000 in August last year after a stock condition survey, a figure which almost doubled following another survey this August.

Scott said, "The stock survey was indicative allowing us to provide estimated costs. The more detailed contractors survey confirmed whether or not specific parts of the building actually required major repair or replacement, enabling us to confirm final costings."

But Mr Downes insisted the company's calculations were incorrect and said, "This is obviously a big issue, especially in this current economic climate and will now put leaseholders in a very difficult situation.

"How will leaseholders, such as first-time buyers in negative equity, pensioners and people on a low income, be able to find the extra money to pay back a loan of this value?"