RESIDENTS at flats in Witney have been landed with bills of up to £1,400 each for car park maintenance dating back almost three years.

The owners of flats at Marriotts Walk said leaseholders owe fees for car park maintenance from December 2010 to September last year.

A letter from Linden Homes demanded payment in two weeks, though it has now said these payments can be staged. Fourteen out of around 60 tenants have appealed against the bills.

The residents get free parking in the multi-storey car park at their town centre apartments, but have to pay costs for upkeep.

David Hurst, 73, moved in three months ago, but said he has been told to pay the full fee.

He said: “It really is quite amazing that they want us to pay this money upfront.

“People do not just have that amount of money lying around.

“I do not really understand why they have only just realised that we needed to pay this fee.”

Mike Freer, who rents out his propertt said: “I am liable for that money.

“I don’t want to have to leave it for my tenants to pay, but we just do not know how they can send us this bill so long after the fact.”

He added: “We know some people have paid, but people are not able to just pay out that amount of money. “It is ridiculous that it has taken them almost three years since the flats were built to charge people for this.”

A spokesman for Linden Homes Chiltern said: “Linden Homes is currently investigating these back-dated maintenance charges.

“Any residents who have paid in excess of the required maintenance fees will be reimbursed and all charges made to residents are being reviewed as part of this process.

“The remaining valid charges will not be required to be paid within 14 days, and Linden Homes is in the process of contacting all residents to work with them to find a suitable payment schedule.”