Aberdeenshire Council has been branded the “landlord from hell” by relatives of elderly residents facing tens of thousands of pounds of extra care charges.
The Press and Journal revealed last week that some sheltered housing residents are facing care bills of an extra £1,000 per month in the wake of the authority’s decision to scrap 35% contribution cap.
Now relatives of the some of the worst affected residents have spoken out.
Kitty Austin, whose 89-year-old mother is a resident at Dalvenie Gardens very sheltered housing scheme in Banchory, has condemned the move.
“The council has taken advantage of their power to levy a huge increase in a very short space of time with no attempt to phase it in or give warning.
“It’s not given people time to organise themselves.”
Mrs Austin – who described the implementation of the fees as “shambolic” – has now written to council bosses directly, demanding answers as to why “a very vulnerable section of our community has been exposed by your council offices to a truly shocking increase in costs”.
“Aberdeenshire Council is the landlord from hell,” she added.
Councillor Anne Robertson, social work and housing spokeswoman for the authority’s opposition group Aberdeenshire Alliance, said their calls for consultation with families before the charges were implemented had not been heeded.
“As part of that debate, Alliance members emphasised that the implementation process was critical and plans should be put in place to ensure appropriate and effective communication with individuals, families, carers and advocates,” she said.
Last night council co-leader Richard Thomson admitted the ferocious backlash to how the new fees have been implemented has given him “pause for thought”.
But the SNP group leader stood by the decision which he says “brings Aberdeenshire into line with other local authorities” which have also scrapped fee caps.
Mr Thomson said councillors from all parties have already accepted there are “budgetary pressures” which mean the current model of care charging is not sustainable.
He added: “We’re still looking at the threshold of people who pay the full amount. It’s currently £16,000 but that is under review.
“That’s a response to the concerns of residents which have been raised to us at engagement events.”
