Residents are set to fall into "financial ruin" as they are forced to pay more than £200,000 each for housing repair bills which a council is refusing to cover.

Those living in Ramsgate's historic Royal Crescent have been left shell-shocked by the plan drawn up by Thanet District Council (TDC), stressing the figures are "simply unpayable".

The authority posted letters last week informing 10 leaseholders in the 19th century seafront property that they will have to fork out mammoth sums of money to cover the repairs.

Three of the residents have been told to cough up between £177,000 and £217,000, while seven others living in a different part face bills ranging between £94,000 and £164,000.

The council says the work is essential as the building's balconies, which are currently supported by scaffolding, are unstable and are therefore a health and safety risk.

In total, the authority estimates the structural repair work for parts of the site it owns will cost £2.8 million. Other repairs will consist of chimney and roof strengthening, rainwater fittings, upgraded decorations and improvements to the facade.

A chunk of £800,000 is to be covered by the council, while the rest will hit the pockets of leaseholders residing in the sweeping Georgian terrace.

Jeremy Millar, who has lived in the seaside block for five years, has been left stunned by the news that he could have to contribute up to £217,000.

"It's beyond anything," the art tutor said.

"Repairs like this go on all the time all over the country, and I haven't found anywhere that is approaching this amount - not even close.

"We just got the letter out the blue. We knew they were contemplating some work but all went quiet, so we thought maybe it would be about £10,000 or something, not £200,000.

"Getting that letter was such a shock. It's life-changing and reading it was like being fired from a job by text.

"It could be a real tipping point for somebody as it's completely traumatising. I fear it will have really disastrous effects on people as the figures are just enormous.

"The council surely has to have more consideration for us - especially after the year everyone has had."

The huge bills put forward by the council will be discussed and voted on tomorrow (Thursday) at a virtual cabinet meeting.

In ordering money from its leaseholders, TDC says a "lump sum payment is not realistic" and will therefore offer alternatives - either paying in instalments over a number of years, or the leaseholder having to pay in full when they decide to leave.

Outraged Mr Millar says the whole situation leaves the residents in an impossible situation.

"The flats aren't worth much more than what we'd be paying," Mr Millar said. "What we'd be paying is like 80% of what they are worth.

"So it means they are effectively worthless to us. The council says we can pay it off when we sell the property, but who's going to have extra money that will cover a mortgage and this.

"It's just crazy. The council is going to spend all this money up front and then have no feasible way of getting back because people just won't sell their flats, as what's the point in having to pay all this?

"I genuinely cannot understand it.

"It's completely traumatising. I fear it will have really disastrous effects on people as the figures are just enormous..." - Jeremy Millar

"The council's let it fall into disrepair, but it's not like it's falling into the sea or anything - there's nothing massively wrong. It just needs some maintenance work.

"The amount they are talking about is the cost of rebuilding a building, not repairing one."

The £2.8 million repair works are to be split into three phases. The first two are deemed to be "essential", while the £520,000 third phase is considered optional and will be discussed with leaseholders later down the line.

TDC says it has received legal advice on its plan to charge its leaseholders, and has confirmed everything is above board.

It says the option not to dump the huge costs on them was considered, but has not been recommended.

'We understand that the costs are high and this is why there is the offer for leaseholders to accept a charge against their property...'

"This is because the costs would effectively fall to the council’s wider tenant body, through their rent charges," the council said.

The Grade II-listed Royal Crescent building, which is passed by those walking along Ramsgate's esplanade above the port, was previously a language school.

It is part-owned by the council, and also houses other swanky apartments not owned by the authority.

A TDC spokesman said: “The buildings, owned by the council, are divided into flats. Twelve are tenanted and 10 were sold as leasehold, under the right-to-buy legislation.

“The report states that if repair works are not carried out, the building will deteriorate which will impact on the conditions of the flats and their value. The costs presented in the report are estimated and represent the worst case scenario but the fact that these regency buildings are of significant heritage value and Grade-II listed does have an impact.

“We understand that the costs are high and this is why there is the offer for leaseholders to accept a charge against their property so that they do not have to pay anything unless they sell.

"There will also be a consultation process with leaseholders, known as a Section 20 consultation.

"In addition, the report makes provision for the council to write off these amounts if there is insufficient equity or other funds and payment would cause financial hardship.”

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet