Homeowners have been advised to add a £14,000 bill to cover fire safety measures at a block of flats to their mortgages.

This week, KentOnline reported on leaseholders of homes in Portland House in Sheerness High Street, receiving the bill which had to be paid within 30 days. The deadline is today (October 27).

Currently, if there was a blaze in the block residents would have to go back through the building to reach the safety of the ground floor.

David Ford, director of landlord Azure Property Consultants, said the firm fully sympathises with the tenants and the company has supported tenants in the past with payment plans.

But on this occasion, he has suggested the sum could be added to their existing mortgage ot they should “explore alternative financing solutions that may better suit their individual circumstances”.

Payment plans will be considered on a case-by-case basis if the leaseholders can show they have explored all other financial avenues.

This is because the works on a new fire exit cannot start until the funds, totalling £441,000, have been collected from all the leaseholders.

But one mortgage advisor says while the suggestion is possible it is also “totally unrealistic”.

Boss of Mortage Superheroes, Tony Steele, based in Broadway, Sheerness, confirmed that some providers would lend for works on a leasehold property.

However, this could take over a month depending on a mortgage company’s resources.

He said this was “grossly unfair”, adding: “Expecting the leaseholders of Portland House to come up with £14,000 each in such a short period of time is totally unrealistic.

“This is especially [the case] when a lot of people are currently struggling to live just day-to-day at the moment.

“Unless each leaseholder has £14,000 in spare savings, which is unlikely, then they are left with few options.

“They could potentially borrow the money, perhaps even against their mortgage, but borrowing the funds would mean paying interest on the loan so it would be much more than £14,000 they would end up paying back.

“Lending should not be entered into lightly and panicking leaseholders into making hasty financial decisions is grossly unfair.”

Two of the homeowners told KentOnline previously that they would not be able to afford to pay the fee.

Speaking on Friday, two days before the deadline, Georgie Sayers, who has been a leaseholder for around eight years, said she has already applied for a seven-year loan to pay for the bill but was turned down.

The 44-year-old said she would not add the sum to her mortgage as she fears it would alert her lender to the lack of fire safety within the building.

She added: “Even if I were to get the sum added to my mortgage I would not be able to afford the repayments.

“At the moment my income just about meets my outgoing but this would bankrupt me.

“I have already been denied by my bank for a loan so I have a black mark against my credit score.

“At the moment we are surrounded by paperwork trying to figure out what we can do.”

Meanwhile, mum-of-three Heidi Martin-Barshell, a landlord of one of the flats, says she will not contact her mortgage company either.

The 49-year-old massage and beauty therapist at Sun Kisses in Minster says she fears that her fixed-rate mortgage will be increased to a point which she will not be able to pay it.

MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Kevin McKenna, says he will contact the leaseholders and Azure to “fully understand” the problem.

He said: “It’s so important that we ensure housing in Sittingbourne and Sheppey is safe for everyone.

“Unsafe and poorly installed cladding must be replaced, and buildings need safe evacuation roots for their residents.

“We cannot see a repeat of the Grenfell Tower tragedy so, I welcome the steps being taken to improve the safety of Portland House.

“I know the current costs for residents to make the building safer is very high, and this is especially tough for residents when the current cost of living is also very expensive.

“Up and down the UK, leaseholders face big challenges around inadequate maintenance and high service charges.

“I want to fully understand this problem, I will be contacting Georgie, Heidi, other residents, and Azure Property Consultants about Portland House.”

Mr Ford said that both Kayleigh Investments and his firm “remain fully supportive of leaseholders” and are working “constructively” with them.

He added: “We understand that this is a significant sum, but this process has been going on for a number of years and leaseholders were warned of the possible magnitude of the costs in May this year.

“We would also like to stress that the freeholder and managing agent are receiving none of the sums requested.

“One hundred per cent of the sums are going to paying the cost of the works by contractors and advisors independent and not connected to the freeholder or managing agent.

“To provide further context, the freeholder collects £3,300 per annum on this property in the form of ground rents on Portland House.

“The freeholder has also already granted payment plans in the past for a significant number of leaseholders in relation to other service charges and cannot reasonably be expected to cover these costs.

“Over the past 15 years, Keighley Investments Ltd through Azure Property Consultants Ltd has supported many long leaseholders at Portland House through financial difficulties.”

KentOnline asked what would happen to the leaseholders if payment was not made. Mr Ford reiterated the firm’s priority is to work with the leaseholders rather than resorting to legal action and would not comment further.