I write in response to your article Tribunal rules in favour of tenant' (News Shopper, October 19, 2005).

It was presumptuous to assert that the council is facing a "flood of claims" in relation to late service charge bills.

Council staff have been working closely with lease-holders to agree individual repayment programmes. The vast majority of lease-holders have worked with us by responding quickly and co-operatively.

A new software programme has been installed, minimising the possibility of such a scenario re-occurring.

The leasehold valuation tribunal considers each individual case on its merits and so there has not been a precedent set by the ruling in Ms Muller's case, which ruled that a limited portion of the service charge was not deemed reasonable and Ms Muller is still required to pay the undisputed sum.

Cllr Peter Kotz, Greenwich Council cabinet member for housing and neighbourhood renewal