I've lived in Forest Croft for nearly 3 years and yes, the maintenance charge has recently increased (from ?117 to ?143 per month for my 2-bed flat). On the plus side, the new managing agent seems far more competent and interested in looking after the block than KFH, the previous agent. (The new agent is a small, local company.) A sum of ?3000 was levied from each flat owner about 3-4 years ago, for the repainting of the exterior. My understanding is that this job was botched in that the building was repainted but not all the external repairs were made. I have heard that the directors unwisely chose the cheapest quote; and by the time problems had been discovered with the work, the company contracted had gone out of business.

I think that at some point in the future, flat owners will be levied once more to complete the external repairs and make good the tatty interior, particularly the stairwells. I will be happy to pay this for several reasons: 1) I didn't have to fork out ?3000 a few years ago; 2) I have much more confidence in the new managing agent than the old one; 3) I love living there - my flat is very peaceful, with wonderful views over Docklands and east London; when friends visit, they stand agape at my living room window; 4) from what I can tell by looking in estate agent windows, the value of the flats in Forest Croft has increased by far more than the local average over the last few years; 5) a one-off levy on flat owners would in my opinion be offset by a jump in the value of the flats (assuming the work were to be carried out effectively of course!).

So, plenty of plus points, with the proviso that you may face a one-off bill in the future and that ultimately all decisions lie with the directors, who have made mistakes in the past...