Family Dreams Dashed by Soaring Service Charges
A young family from Surrey claims their life plans have been put on indefinite hold after their flat became impossible to sell due to an astronomical service charge. Sam and Evangeline Thorn, both 33, are trapped in their two-bedroom leasehold property in Redhill after the annual fee skyrocketed from £2,800 to £7,500.
The couple, who bought the flat for £245,000 in 2018, welcomed a daughter two years ago and are desperate to move to a larger home to accommodate a second child. Despite reducing their asking price to just £220,000 – less than their original purchase price – potential buyers vanish when they learn about the crippling annual charge.
The Viewings That Never Lead to Offers
Sam Thorn, an account manager, revealed the frustrating pattern with every viewing. "We've had maybe 10 or so viewings with estate agents," he said. "Every single person that liked it, when they were then made aware of the service charge cost, the estate agents told us that people didn't want to go for another viewing. They just weren't interested."
The situation has created a painful financial and emotional stalemate. "We haven't got enough room to have more children, so literally our lives are on pause at the moment," Sam explained. "It's not just the financial strain of having to come up with £7,500 a year to pay these costs, but you're also not able to move on to your life. We're just stuck where we are."
Communal Heating System Blamed for Soaring Costs
The root of the problem lies within the Park25 development in Redhill, managed by property management company FirstPort. The 18-year-old development uses a communal heat network powered by gas and biomass boilers, with heating costs included in the service charge.
According to FirstPort, 51% of the service charge is allocated to energy costs. The company received a portion of £3.5 million in Government funding in 2024 to improve the network's efficiency. However, Sam remains sceptical. "If you take that away, we're still left with a bill of just under £4,000 a year for things like cutting the grass and lift maintenance," he countered.
The financial uncertainty is compounded by recent news of budget overruns. The couple received a notification that the management went £80,000 over budget last year under a 'general maintenance' category, with costs ballooning from a budgeted £16,000 to over £90,000.
Management Response and Ongoing Dispute
A FirstPort spokesperson acknowledged the issues, citing an "increasingly inefficient" heat network due to ageing components and rising biomass fuel costs. They stated these pressures are "outside of our control."
The company says it is exploring innovative solutions, including recycling waste heat from a neighbouring data centre, and has applied for further government grants. They also claim to have improved transparency with clearer invoices and have met with residents and local MP Rebecca Paul to explain the charges.
Despite these assurances, for Sam and Evangeline, the reality is a life in limbo, forced to sacrifice holidays and future plans while they remain prisoners in their own home, victims of a leasehold system that has turned their property into a financial trap.
