In a move to ease many householders' pain before appearing in court to justify the unjustifiable ‘bed tax’ it added to water customers bills, water company Infralobo quietly has reduced its charges.
The water services company, majority owned by Loulé council, previously has ignored a directive from the water regulator that its bedroom tax is at best highly suspect and that it should be suspended prior to the courts deciding for what the company can, and can not, charge.
The result of Infralobo’s past activities is that dozens of properties in three areas adjoining the luxury Vale do Lobo estate, Quinta Jacinta, Vale do Garrão and Vilas Alvas, all have been cut off due to arrears. Infralobo failed to persuade many householders to sign a new supply deal which included the unilaterally imposed ‘per bed’ tax that was added to water bills.
However, invoices sent to customers covering April contain significant changes.
Water charges have been reduced by around 15%, sewage charges now appear to be based on water consumption and while the dreaded 'bedroom tax' has not completely disappeared it has been dramatically reduced so that a four-bedroom house in the three targeted areas will now be asked to pay €16 as against €124 under the old 'bedroom tax' regime.
There has been no communication from the company, no announcement from the council or any other form of explanation.
Those customers affected conclude that the lack of communication and the significantly reduced bills signal a victory for the residents with suggestions that Infralobo 'is sulking' likely to be close to the truth.
Pressure from householders on the water regulator, ESAR, press coverage and legal moves to take the supplier to court, may all have contributed to Infralobo’s welcomed reduction in its charges.
The overall average reductions in residents service bills is of around €100 a month which the company would not have made has there not been a huge row.
One of the residents affected, Manuela Costa, cautioned that there is still a way to go before customers feel they are being treated like customers, rather than sources of ready cash.
Many properties remain disconnected from their water supplies as owners refused to pay the earlier ‘bedroom tax’ and Costa says this situation needs to be remedied and those that did pay the ‘bedroom tax’ only paid it under duress and need to be reimbursed.
The residents’ case is now in the Court of Arbitration in Faro, advised Manuela Costa who has helped spearhead the group action against Infralobo.
“We understand we should have a decision from the court, which is final with no appeal, by the end of this month. Should this go our way then Infralobo presumably will be compelled to reconnect water supplies and reimburse those who were forced to pay.
“However, should the court case go in our favour then this should not be the end of the action. Apart from getting the water reconnected and monies repaid we will want to see those who have willingly, indeed happily, been responsible for the outrageous behaviour of both Loulé Câmara and Infralobo brought to account for the misery, worry and massive inconvenience they have caused to so many law abiding property owners."
Why this has taken so long to resolve remains one of Algarve life's mysteries but the residents now are significantly closer to resolving a situation entirely of Infralobo's making.
These ‘Water Wars’ developments adjoin the luxury and well-tended Vale do Lobo estate but unlike their posh neighbour, are uncared for and have crumbling roads despite the stated reason for the ‘bedroom tax’ being to improve the infrastructure and environment. This has not happened in the two years this extra tax has been in place.
The residents' mood may not be changed by a billing reduction alone as “abuse towards residents has never been so blatant, this is why this fight is a citizens fight: a fight against oppression and arrogance from the part of a self proclaimed authority against the many average citizens trying to go about their lives in a normal and carefree way,” says Manuela Costa.
Another resident notes a deeper financial reason for Infralobo’s desire to annex these estates while failing to maintain them:
“Basically, they are land grabbing. Our roads were never owned by Vale do Lobo and in fact it is our belief that the roads have never legally been handed over to Loulé Camera so this makes the whole scenario even more unbelievable. I personally believe that by grabbing these other developments Vale do Lobo seeks to make their books look more attractive to a potential purchaser.- (please note I have said this is my own personal belief) - Vale do Lobo would potentially be sold with a 49% holding by Infralobo which now has had its client base boosted by grabbing our streets and developments and classifying them as Vale do Lobo. If this wasn't happening to us and I read what I have just written I would dismiss it as fiction!”
With Vítor Aleixo and his brother-in-law respectively in charge of Loulé council and Infralobo, communication politely could be referred to as ‘limited’ and the hope is that the court action initiated by the residents will peel back at least some of the layers of mystery and reveal the truth, however ugly.
