I READ with interest your article about Mears’ overcharging but find it very surprising councillors are only now reviewing this contract now.

I am a member of a residents and tenants association and this subject has been raised many times at meetings of area panels, city assembly and at residents meetings when councillors were present.

It is not only the overcharging that should be looked into but also the completion of the  repairs that are done and time it takes to do them.

One tenant’s roof repair took 21 months, another tenant waited in all day for a repair to be done on guttering and Mears did not turn up.

When the tenant complained he was sent two photos of the repair and told that the workman did not knock the door but the work had been carried out.

But the tenant realised the photos were not his home and was told it was a mistake.

Maybe the reason that support is being withdrawn from resident associations is that they are the ones that  try to improve conditions for their residents.

John Marchant, Goodwood Way, Brighton