FURIOUS residents have torn up maintenance bills after suffering huge price hikes.

Monthly service charges have soared by up to 76 per cent since St Georges Community Housing Association started to manage Basildon Council's 12,000 homes in April.

Leaseholders, living in council-owned blocks, have to pay the monthly fees to cover maintenance and cleaning.

Charges at Royal Court tower blocks, Laindon, have rocketed from £65 to £114 a month, yet residents claim there has been no improvements to the service.

Barry Hughes, 66, is so disgusted he has cancelled his direct debit. He said: "I am not alone. About five others in Royal Court have stopped paying. I have never seen an increase like it.

"It's a joke - 76 per cent, yet we have the same two cleaners using the same equipment."

"How can the cost possibly go up that much just because the management has changed?

"They say it is because of increased graffiti and vandalism, but we have always had these problems."

Frank Tomlin, a Laindon Park councillor, said: "The charges seem to be unreasonably high. I am asking why and seeing if they can be reduced."

A council source confirmed there had been a number of complaints.

Terri Sargent, cabinet member for community services said: "I have had a complaint from a constituent in Crouch ward, but have asked for more information about Royal Court, where there seems to be most concern."

Council leader Malcolm Buckley - who owns two leaseholds on flats in council-owned blocks in Long Riding, Basildon, and Eideland, Laindon - played down concerns.

He said: "My annual fees have risen this year, but it is a result of work being carried out on the blocks.

"For example £5,134 has been spent on the Long Riding block and my annual amount was £667 this year. I would expect this to fall to around £300 next year when less work is carried out."