Leaseholders at a block of flats in Basingstoke will not have to pay out any extra for costly fire patrols, it has been confirmed to the Gazette.

The management company of Crown Heights, on Alencon Link, has confirmed that leaseholders will not be asked to pay any more for the waking watch, which is believed to have run into six figures.

Residents had been facing a bill for thousands of pounds for the patrols, brought in after the building failed fire safety checks last year.

But now it has been confirmed that the cost was covered by a fund set up by FirstPort and raised by leaseholders' service charges.

It was described as "the best outcome we could have hoped for" by one resident, who said she was disappointed that it wasn't covered by the government's fund but pleased that she wouldn't have to pay any more.

A 24/7 patrol of Crown Heights has been in force since December 2020 after it failed an intrusive cladding survey.

The survey found it was covered in a render system, insulated by the flammable material expanded polystyrene, without any fire breaks.

Patrols over

The patrol, known as a waking watch, was introduced after consultation with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and is designed to raise the alarm for evacuation if a fire is spotted.

But this was removed earlier this month after a new integrated fire alarm system was fitted.

However, residents have been left in the dark over how it would be paid for until now.

The patrols are very costly and are believed to have cost between £100,000 and £200,000.

But FirstPort, the management company of Crown Heights, has now confirmed to The Gazette that the cost was covered by a fund that all leaseholders had already contributed to via their usual service charge.

They also said that leaseholders did not incur "any additional charges".

A spokesperson for FirstPort said: "The cost of the Waking Watch was paid for through the leaseholders’ service charge fund. Monies held in this fund were sufficient to cover this cost in full, therefore, leaseholders did not incur any additional charges beyond this.”

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the removal of the waking watch and the installation of a new alarm had boosted the morale of residents.

She also said there was a "massive improvement" in communication from FirstPort, who are now speaking to them on a weekly basis.

"It should have been covered by the government," she said about the cost of the waking watch, pointing out that the Waking Watch Relief Fund sounds like it should cover the patrols, but in fact only covers the installation of a new fire alarm.

"The fees did come from the residents. But it is the best outcome we could have hoped for."

As reported earlier this week, FirstPort have successfully applied for funding from the government's Building Safety Fund for remedial works to Crown Heights.

The firm are now "carrying out further assessments to ascertain and plan the required scope of works".