ANGRY homeowners at two upmarket developments are threatening to sack their "lazy, overpriced and incompetent" factor after a series of run-ins.

ANGRY homeowners at two upmarket developments are threatening to sack their "lazy, overpriced and incompetent" factor after a series of run-ins.

Both sides blame each other after a series of arguments over the management of Carrick Quay, on the Broomielaw, and Glasgow Green.

Residents have accused Ross and Liddell of charging them high fees for work, failing to maintain common areas and ignoring instructions.

However, the firm says homeowners aren't giving it proper instructions or adhering to management procedures.

The Carrick Quay Owners' Association says the last straw came when Ross and Liddell obtained a £120,000 quote from contractors to have the balconies painted - around £2000 per home.

They say the factor then tried to charge £5000 just to oversee the work on the apartments, which are each worth £150,000 to £350,000.

Residents refused to pay and say they told the factor to look for a more competitive price. Ross and Liddell then came back with a quote for £60,000 - half the original cost.

However Ross and Liddell insist it has followed good practice in obtaining quotes for the specification required and put forward a range of solutions to all the problems - but residents have not taken them up.

Brian Le Vell, 41, has lived at the Carrick Quay development for 10 years and is the owners' association chairman. He said: "The difference in painting quotes is a typical example of Ross and Liddell's poor service. They don't care if they get us competitive quotes or not.

"The firm gets £6000 a year from Carrick Quay residents just for being our factor, yet wants more money to oversee the work.

"Their strategy seems to be to do as little as possible, while still sending out the bills and raking in money.

"Communication with residents is appalling.

"We issued a direct instruction that no bills should be issued without our approval, but they continually ignore this instruction. We are seriously considering sacking the company."

Ross and Liddell says it has given residents plenty of time to check accounts before paying.

Brian Arbuckle, a computer consultant, has lived in the building for 12 years. He said: "We fully support the Evening Times' campaign to have factors registered.

"We have no contract or document that tells us the exact responsibilities Ross and Liddell has towards our property. I've been asking for months for this information. There are also problems with maintenance. We have had a water overflow problem that has never been investigated, and a hole in the roof that has been there for three months."

However, Ross and Liddell, one of Scotland's biggest factoring firms, disputed the owners' version of events.

A spokesman said: "Over the past few years we have put several proposals to the committee and have been frustrated by the lack of instructions received.

"We are aware problems with the roof exist and external redecoration is overdue.

"Competitive estimates have been obtained and recommendations put to the committee, but we are limited in what action we can take if we don't get instructions from them.

"We repudiate allegations we do not communicate with residents. Over the past year there have been around 250 e-mails between the property manager and the chairman and secretary of the owners' association."

Ross and Liddell has also been criticised by residents at a new development near Glasgow Green. Homeowners say it is over-run with rats, despite paying the firm to keep the area clean.

Paul Merrick pays around £60 a month for maintenance services on top of an annual management fee of £180.

He says the problems began almost as soon as he moved into his £255,000 townhouse two years ago.

Mr Merrick, 44, claims poor cleaning services have led to the development, which has 48 flats and 12 houses, being over-run with rats.

The site manager, who was the first resident at the development, said: "The rat problem is awful.

"The rubbish piles up and no matter how often we complain they do not keep on top of it - Ross and Liddell keep blaming the residents.

"They recently brought in a company to clean the communal bins - it cost more than £300. We got our own company in who did it for £60."

Mr Merrick is also unhappy about paying in advance for services still to be carried out.

He added: "When I refused to pay I was threatened with court action.

"How can you be billed - and taken to court - for a service you have not yet accepted or received?

"Ross and Liddell are lazy, overpriced and incompetent.

"At our next residents' meeting I will propose we sack the company."

However, Ross and Liddell again blamed the residents.

A spokesman said: "We are fully aware of the problems with refuse disposal. It is the proprietors' responsibility to secure and deposit refuse and arrange for the bins to be taken from the enclosure to a pick-up point every Thursday. They are not adhering to this, hence the problems.

"The problems are exacerbated by a number of flats being sub-let, while a number of owners have failed to buy wheeled bins.

"The quote of £300 was for clearing seven bin enclosures, not one. We believe the price charged was not excessive."