Work Starts on Derelict Flat!!
I am pleased to report that my efforts concerning Flat 17 have finally paid off and they have started some serious work this month. I did get some unexpected leverage in my efforts though.
Having been given a start date for refurbishment of the flat which fell at the end of July, when this didn’t happen I requested an explanation. I got a new start date in two weeks time but no explanation as to why nothing had happened on the original date. So I again requested an explanation.
The response to this came to me in error because the property manager, instead of sending it to her boss, sent it to me instead. It read “Am I obliged to give this woman an answer?. I know the answer I want to give!!”
Well, I got straight on the phone to her and invited her to give me the answer she so desperately wanted to give but strangely enough she declined my invitation. She apologised but I personally don’t set much store by apologies that are only made because the person has been found out. I threatened the company with the press and instructed them as to how I wanted them to proceed.
Shortly after this, I got an e-mail from her boss (I had already forwarded her e-mail because after all it was supposed to go there in the first place!)
He advised me that the owners have a policy of retention for their residential properties. Because this flat is a single unit owned within a block over which they have no control, coupled with the vandalism that previously occurred to the property along with poor general environment of the block (since improved) the matter did slip from the radar for some time. As owners and operators of a significant number of residential properties it wasn’t in the owners interest to deliberately leave their properties empty and poorly repaired (could have fooled me).
He went to advise that six weeks has been allowed for the project to complete (26th September 2011) although it is likely the project will be completed sooner.
The time elapsed between the authorisation of the refurbishment work and the proposed start date started with implementing their Asbestos Management Plan (this could not commence until the premises had been cleared of organic waste i.e. rat excrement) along with the various construction phase plans and method statements required for the CDM Co-Ordinator to notify the HSE of the commencement of the work. All of their refurbishment work is notified to the HSE whether it is a lawful requirement or not, and the Asbestos Management Plan is also designed to ensure that their own staff and that of their contractors are able to carry out their duties in a safe environment. This phase of the project can, and often does, take several weeks to complete.
He finished by stating that he had intended to telephone me to convey the above but was unable to find my telephone number. So I called him.
I said I found it difficult to believe that the property had fallen off the radar, certainly from 2007 onwards because not only did we take over management then but they have been paying the service charges ever since. Not to mention the constant efforts to get someone to do something about the property. Turned out he was referring to circumstances surrounding the flat in 2003, when we had no freeholder and no managing agent!
Leaseholder Won’t Let Insurers In To Trace Leak
We’ve written to the leaseholder a number of times asking him to grant access to his flat to enable the insurers to trace the leak that is coming from his property into the common areas. Admittedly he did get his shower replaced in attempt to deal with it but unfortunately it made the situation worse. I say unfortunately but in actual fact it was also fortunate as the worsening of the leak allowed the trace and access part of the buildings insurance to be used. Well, it would if anyone could get in. Looks like he’ll have to have the floorboards lifted which could explain the reluctance. Leaves us in an unenviable position because we desperately want to repair the fire damage too but obviously can’t.
