CROWN Simmons Housing has come under fire from a second charitable home in Haslemere for charging higher business electricity tariffs to elderly tenants on fixed incomes.

As the Herald reported in March, tenants of Ballindune, gifted to the town by Hewitt Homes charity, were “ill with worry” after their new management company hit them with unexpected higher charges.

Tenants of Ballindune’s sister home, Haughton House, are similarly battling Esher-based Crown Simmons, which was appointed corporate trustee in April 2018, over its “unacceptable” decision to bill them on a business not a domestic tariff.

Haughton House resident Andrew Morris, who is representing fellow tenants, told the Herald: “Crown Simmons issued invoices at Christmas that were almost 150 per cent more than what we were paying before.

“It was a huge shock and they have still not resolved the situation.

“We are all in limbo and it’s very worrying.

“It’s totally unacceptable and beyond belief they are trying to charge us as if we were a commercial property.”

Waverley Borough Council is traditionally approached to suggest residents in need when places become available.

A spokesperson said: “We have no statutory powers to direct housing providers to lower their fixed rates, but have been providing advice and support to the residents of Haughton House, which is managed by Crown Simmons for Hewitt Homes.

“We recommended that complaints should be made in writing to the customer services director and the chief executive at Crown Simmons.

“Following an unsatisfactory response, we advise residents to escalate complaints to the Housing Ombudsman service.

“This advice has been followed by a representative of the tenants at Haughton House, who has lodged a complaint with the Housing Ombudsman.”

Responding in May to a letter from Mr Morris expressing residents concerns in February, Crown Simmons chief executive Paul Yates wrote: “I know many residents will have been very worried about the increases since we took over from Vivid Housing and I sincerely apologise for any distress you may have been caused.”

Mr Yates blamed Vivid Housing for taking “an unreasonable amount of time” until early 2019 to provide utility supplier information.

He said Crown Simmons had now managed to get a 15 per cent reduction backdated to April 2018.

Crucially, however, the new rate would still be charged on a business rate.

Defending the decision, Mr Yates wrote: “The simple answer is that the electricity supply is provided to Crown Simmons Housing rather than individual households direct.”