A MAJOR Glasgow housing development is at the centre of a row over an unpaid six figure electricity bill.

Kingston Quay, in Nelson Street,south of the River Clyde, has arrears of £100,000 with Scottish Power it was revealed during a court case.

The building's factor, A&K Property Management, said that much of the outstanding amount is owed by previous factors.

The figure was revealed during a small claims case where A&K Property Management took an owner to court over unpaid factoring bills of £85 a month.

The owners, a Mr and Mrs Ventilla, disputed some of the bills and alleged that as the firm had not kept its part of the contract, they were not obligated to meet theirs.

Graham Fordyce, solicitor, for the Ventillas, raised the electricity issue and said it was the reason why they ended up in court.

He said accounts showed in January 2012 the balance outstanding was nil, and the current amount is £30,955.

Alexander McDivitt, director of A&K property gave evidence and said the current figure is £100,000.

He said: "This is a dispute going on for some time involving Barratt and Life Property Management (previous factors).

"It is incorrect billing by Scottish Power. I'm not their collection agency.

"This is owners' debt.

"We don't take on the debt of other agencies."

Mr Fordyce said: "One of the reasons your company was engaged was because of the level of debt to Scottish Power."

Mr McDivitt said: "I was voted in because of the state of the development from two previous factors."

When asked if there was a problem with the debt, Mr McDivitt said there was.

He argued that around £40,000 dates from when other companies were managing the flats and his firm is not liable for that.

He said the monthly communal electricity bill is £7000 and when there is more money in the residents' account, extra payments are made to repay the debt owed since A&K took over.

Graham Craig, solicitor acting for A&K Property, asked Mr McDivitt what was the historic situation regarding electricity.

Mr McDivitt said: "Scottish Power was the supplier. The account was in arrears by nearly £70,000.

"Bills to previous factors, it should have been LPM and before them Hacking and Paterson."

He said he gave them meter readings when A&K took over.

Mr Craig asked if A&K was in dispute and Mr McDivitt replied: "Yes. We have got invoices with other companies' names on them."

Mr Fordyce challenged bills for architectural work on the building, and the system A&K Property uses to earn bonus payments.

If 300 of the 400 owners pay their monthly factoring charge the firm is due a bonus, but it was suggested the bonus was being taken even if the number was lower.

Mr McDivitt said if the bill was paid in arrears then it was still collected, so the bonus was due.

The architect's bill centres on a charge to the owners for a share of £5000 to be paid to Wright Architects, but the amount has not been paid and no invoice could be produced.

Mr McDivitt said part of the amount, he could not say how much, had been paid, and the rest was due when the work was completed.

He said the cash was paid from the Kingston Quay account into the A&K account to enable the bill to be paid when it becomes due, instead of risking having insufficient funds and "embarrassing" his company.

Sheriff Joseph Platt will deliver a decision next week.

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk