FURIOUS Basildon leaseholders have been left "horrified" after being hit with a more than double rise in buildings insurance costs.

Residents in the town received letters this month from Basildon Council revealing they would face an “extremely substantial increase” in insurance premium rates.

One leaseholder, who asked not to be named, said his “stomach turned” when he read the letter to say his buildings insurance was rising from £318.99 to £709.23 a year.

They claim Basildon Council hasn’t renegotiated since 2021, and is locked into the current contract until 2026.

As a result, they have been left “horrified” and are calling for a reform of the laws surrounding leasehold.

Basildon Council has said it “shares the frustration of residents” and urged people who will struggle to pay to get in contact.

The unnamed leaseholder said: “When I opened the letter, my stomach turned. I was horrified. It is outrageous.

“Leaseholders are banned from arranging their own buildings insurance, and the council concludes by telling leaseholders not to bother contacting it because there will be no further discussion.

“I am a sole occupant, work full time and earn less than the national average salary.

“UK property laws are outdated and ridiculous. We need urgent, massive reform of the laws surrounding leasehold.

“No freeholder should be allowed to impose such ridiculous bills on leaseholders - but it is particularly despicable for a council to do it.

“This is all on top of the wider cost-of-living crisis: Rising energy bills, food bills. It is like death by a thousand papercuts.”

Basildon Council, despite being asked by the Echo, did not name the insurance company behind the increase.

A spokesman said: “We share our residents’ frustrations with the increase in insurance premium rates this year.

“We know that this is an extremely substantial increase on last year’s premiums, which are set by the insurance companies.

“There are a number of factors that the insurance company uses to set its premiums, and this has affected costs of insurance nationally.

“If anyone has any difficulty in paying, then we would encourage them to get in touch with us.”