Several homeowners of Windsor Estates have sought legal advice and written to the developer, Navigant Builders Inc. about its threats to reduce services. The homeowners, who requested not to be named but furnished this news entity with evidence, explained that Navigant Builders is obliged by individual contracts with each homeowner to provide community services such as security and maintenance of common areas.
This news agency understands that the initial fee was about $9,000.00 per month. This was later increased to $17,000.00 per month. Now, Navigant Builders wants to increase the fee to almost $40,000.00 per month. This new fee is expressly stated by Navigant Builders to include a 10% profit for itself. Some homeowners are questioning how this could be, since by each original homeowner agreement provides for this service already. “How could Navigant now seek a profit for what it is already obligated to do?” one homeowner told Guyana Standard.
Whilst some homeowners are against the increases and have objected to Navigant Builders about it; the homeowners who have threatened legal proceedings have agreed to pay the exorbitant increases. Their complaint is that Navigant Builders is sending them repeated emails threatening to cease providing services or reduce such services unless 90% of the homeowners agree to this new fee. The homeowners say that they are being bullied to pressure their neighbours and community residents to pay the increased fees demanded by Navigant Builders.
In a lawyer’s letter seen by this publication, the homeowners contend that they have paid and are paying the demanded increases and therefore are entitled to all the expected services being provided to them. Their entitlement is from their individual contract with Navigant Builders. The homeowners insist that they should not be made to suffer for those residents who are refusing to pay.
In emails seen by this publication, Navigant Builders office has been relentlessly threatening to reduce services and even stopped security services at the main gate for a day, all to force the homeowners to pay up and get their neighbours to do the same. This has caused numerous quarrels amongst neighbours as is evident in the community WhatsApp Group seen by this news outlet.
One resident said in no uncertain terms that no property developer should be allowed to behave in this way. “They promise the moon and never deliver but still demand fees for everything and even then they threaten to not provide those services too,” the homeowner said. She further noted that the government should not allow this, and especially with the new developments, buyers should be aware of the attitudes of those seeking to get them to buy properties there.
