COUNCIL housing company Ascham Homes is to once again appeal against a ruling which requires it to repay thousands of pounds to leaseholders.

The company has already spent at least £70,000 on legal fees trying to overturn the ruling, which is believed to put a program of much-needed property improvements in jeopardy.

Residents who purchased council homes under the Right to Buy scheme were hit with massive bills for work carried out on blocks of flats.

They were not properly consulted on the work and many said they were unable to pay.

But Ascham Homes had not been given permission to bypass the consultation process and the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) turned down a retrospective exemption request by the company.

The Land Tribunal (LT) then rejected an Ascham Homes appeal against the decision, which rendered the bills invalid.

The company insists the president of the Lands Tribunal 'misunderstood' elements of the case and has asked him to reconsider.

And the company is willing to take it further, despite the mounting legal costs, if the latest appeal fails.

Leaseholder Michael McGough said: "I think it is appalling that Ascham Homes has wasted so much of taxpayers money on this."

An Ascham Homes spokeswoman said: "Following the LT's refusal to allow us leave to appeal the decision of the LVT, we felt that the president of the LT had misunderstood important elements of our case.

"We have therefore written to the president asking him to review his decision and allow an oral hearing. If the president does not agree to this we have the option of applying the to Administrative Court for a Judicial Review."

She refused to comment on whether the £70,000 was a good use of tax payers money, whether any Ascham Homes employees had been disciplined for the mistake, or whether the company has paid any leaseholders back.