Residents of a Moray sheltered housing complex will meet its operators later this month amid claims they are being double-charged for heating.
Linkwood View, which is run by Hanover Scotland, opened in Elgin in 2017 to provide specialist care in its 30 flats.
But residents are angry about the charging scheme for the heating system.
One claimed tenants are being charged monthly for a heating and hot water supply to their flats, but also paying for that same supply through their individual electricity bills.
They were due to meet with representatives from Hanover Scotland today to receive a breakdown of the charges being levied, but the meeting has been postponed until the end of the month due to staff shortages.
One resident said: “In addition to rent, currently £469 per month for a two-bedroom flat, Hanover levies a service charge, currently £453 per month – up £59 from the previous year, and a heating charge, currently £24, down £59 from the previous year.
“While the tenants’ heating charge of £24 – last year £83 – is allegedly for their own heating, supplied from central boilers, in practice, each flat has an individual water tank and pump connected to the relevant central boiler, with each flat’s pump engaging at fixed, pre-set times which are then recorded on that individual flat’s own electricity meter.
“Individual tenants are paying for the heating/hot water in their flat, through their normal electricity bills.”
They claimed the “lowering” of the heating charge coincided with a rise in the service charge, and came as a result of a protest about the “apparent double charging” and “very high” electricity bills.
Chris Milburn, director of customer services for Hanover Scotland, said they would explain the system at the meeting later this month.
He said: “It is understandable that some residents at Linkwood View will have questions about how the air-source heat pump system, which provides heating for the development, operates.
“This is a new type of advanced heating system which many will be unfamiliar with and we were happy to have previously met with residents on December 5, 2019 to commence discussions with them.
“At that meeting we committed to report back to residents in early February with more detailed answers to their questions.”
