Water mains project

A document has been sent out to owners outlining progress to date and answering questions that they might raise.  It highlights what individual lessees need to do inside of their flat to complete the connection to the new supply.  The work will differ in each of the flats depending on how many and where the existing supplies come in and where the bathroom and kitchen is in relation to the new supply inlet valve.   A further letter was also sent asking owners to contact recommended companies to quote for the work to individual flats.

One of the companies, Quotehedge,  has attended 10 flats and has reported that it would be useful to identify the existing supplies by turning off the supply to each block and entering into as many flats as possible to ascertain where the supplies come from to each flat. It was agreed that it should be left to each individual flat owner to ask their own plumbers to identify the source of the existing supply on an individual basis.

Daron Tyas and Nigel King will attempt to gain access to all flats to check that the valves are in the “off” position. The water tank will then need to be chlorinated and the system pressurised to identify any possible leaks prior to attempting to connect to individual flats.

The consulting engineers have confirmed that there is no reason why a flat shouldn’t have more than one incoming supply. In principle, this means new pipework could be run around the external walls so reducing work within certain flats. It was agreed that Kfh would liaise directly with flat owners.

Garden

The  gardeners have recently written to Directors requesting a substantial  increase in their fees.  The large increase is partly due to the additional work that the gardeners have been doing since they originally quoted for the contract. It was decided that the gardening contract would be put out to tender, and kfh will issue the first Section 20 consultation notice shortly.

The electricians have suggested that the replacement lights that have been chosen to sit on the garden walls are too tall and will be easily broken. After much discussion, it was change the lights to a bollard type fitting in black, 700mm high.  Globe fittings will be ordered to go in the two positions in the centre of the lawn as per the original choice.

New lights are due to be installed to the entrances to the blocks in Grantully Road and this will take place at the same time as the garden lighting. It was agreed not to fit a 240v power supply at the end of the garden closest to the boiler room due to the expense. 

Wimbledon Tree Surgeons have completed pruning the trees. Daron is liaising more closely with the gardeners and the garden is looking neat and tidy.

Maintenance

The main entrance door frames have been painted.

The paving slabs to the rear of flats 56/65 are lifting and kfh has instructed a contractor to lift them to try to see what is happening below.   There is a history of damp in this area and we will instruct surveyors if necessary.

External refurbishment of Elgin Avenue frontage

The first stage section 20 consultation notices were sent out on 19th November with the consultation period ending on the 21st December.  No observations were received.   Tenders were expected back by the 27th January. After the board has considered the responses and the recommendations from SHW, a further consultation will be issued to flat owners before commencing work in the spring..

Individual flats

The owner of one flat is in the process of selling and has asked kfh for a copy of consent to alter the flat.  We have no records of this and kfh will ask the structural engineer to confirm that the wall she took out was not part of the main structural. 

During the sales process on another flat, it has come to light that the owner had let the flat out to a tenant on an agreement in excess of 12 months.  It was agreed to remind flat owners that they need to notify kfh if subletting for a period exceeding 12 months as the tenant needs to enter into a direct agreement with the Ashworth Mansions Ltd regarding service charges.

Following a complaint from one of the flats at the top of block 1, an engineer checked the  compensator and has adjusted it so that the heating does not go off at such a low outside temperature.  The owner of another flat, on the raised ground floor,  has said that the flat is now very warm and that the heating now runs for 24 hours a day. Kfh reported that the engineers said that they have not touched the timer. It was subsequently agreed to turn the heating off between 11pm and 6am.

Caretaker

A number of residents have expressed their thanks to Daron following all his hard work during the bad weather. He has been asked to clean the moss off of the low level walls to the Ashworth Road side of the block.