Dispute over sale of right to buy property at undervalue heads to court

Antony Zomparelli bought his two-bed flat under the scheme for £340,000 but has been told he should have paid £700,000 because the council charged the lower price as it wrongly thought the dwelling had only one bedroom.

It has now asked him to pay the difference, which Mr Zomparelli is challenging in court.

He has said that he cannot afford this and would not have bought the flat had he known it would cost £700,000, the Sun newspaper has reported.

Mr Zomparelli has said the disputed additional room is only six square metres in size.

The council and Mr Zomparelli are awaiting a date for proceedings at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court.

An Islington Council spokesperson said:“The council has made repeated attempts to resolve this matter without going to court, including voluntarily paying for Mr Zomparelli to receive independent legal advice, and has brought legal proceedings only as a last resort.

"The council has a legal duty to safeguard public resources, and has been acting in the public interest throughout.

“As proceedings are now pending before the court, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Mark Smulian