Q: Do the Data Protection Regulations bar us from using CCTV? The premises have at times been used by people trading drugs which is causing leaseholders a considerable amount of concern. These ātradersā are using an area near where our refuse bins are situated. The incidences have been reported to the police and we have […]
Q: Due to our recent claims history (four claims in two years totalling Ā£17,510) our insurance premiumĀ has increased substantially, and the insurer is imposing an excess a Ā£1,500 Escape of Water Excess with effect from renewal. The advice we have followed previously was that the management company has to pay the excess, as owners could […]
Q: Last year when our building insurance became due for renewal, we were met with an almost 100 per cent increase in the premium because all insurance providers had changed the rules about coastal properties and flood insurance. We took the decision as a committee that, because there are no flats on the ground floor, […]
Q: We have recently experienced a water leak from a supply pipe. I would be grateful if you would help us to determine areas of responsibility for future incidents of this nature. I would be very pleased to know the legal aspects of the maintenance of pipework and stopcocks supplying the water to individual apartments. […]
Q: We are about to update our lease that we think is rather outdated and wondered if you had any ideas, with self-managing flats of a similar set up to ours, shareholder/freeholders with all owners having their own front doors and no shared hallways. Ā Primarily we wish to ensure that our leaseholders that have […]
Q: We have constant issues with our management agents, who before the new committee was in place, were copied into all residentsā association correspondence and invited to all meetings. As the new committee were aware that this was a courtesy and not a right to invite the agents, we decided not to invite them amid […]
Q: We are three blocks of flats, two storeys high, 21 flats in all.Ā Large garden area, with a row of garages at the back. How does it work if not all lessees are willing to purchase the freehold? This looks likely to be the case. If it needs a majority vote ā which we havenāt […]
Q: Our development has 193 flats in several blocks. There is an underground garage with 189 numbered spaces, each one part of an ownerās leased property. There are no unallocated areas. Visiting workpeople are lent a space temporarily. Some residents have raised the matter of vehicle charging points. When discussed, some residents considered it unfair […]
Q: An owner with a tenant in situ says his tenant can hear vermin in the u-bend of her bathroom pipe and he wants the association to pay for a pest control officer to check the drains.Ā This owner decided to upgrade his bathroom and we are unsure whether this was carried out satisfactorily.Ā We […]
Q: We would like your advice as to whether our reserve fund can be used to create new parking bays, as this is not ongoing maintenance.Ā We thought we could ask the owner/leaseholders for agreement to use the funds, but just wanted some clarity from yourselves.Ā We currently have 13 car spaces for 16 flats.Ā […]
