Gate, Guttering, Photos & Company Documentation
Spoke to DB & JV in the last 2 days both of whom had updates to share.
DB has investigated the cost of replacing the communal carpet as it is in ever worsening condition. He got a quote from Sinclair's for a good quality carpet (wool), suitable for heavy residential/commercial wear, including fitting at £2800.
I see this as a benchmark and at the very top-end of what we as a company are prepared to pay. It does however serve as a good indicator of what we can get for our money and it is the first step. The carpet was un-patterned as this would enable maximum use of the full roll - the size is approximately 90sqm.
Ideally, I would say we were looking for a hard wearing, stain disguising, neutral, comfortable and long lasting carpet. I would hope it would last at least 10 years so whatever we pay must be accounted for over that period expenditure wise.
The roof has been expensive but should last over 100 years. Other than minor repairs, the greatest costs are likely to be block insurance; internal painting and external painting.
Let me know your thoughts on what budget we should set for this.
JV has been working on the rear car gate for several days now. She has replaced a number of pins and has had some success but found that the issue now lay with the rigidity of the wood that the track is fixed on. She found this to be rotten and has priced up replacement parts to finally make it a serviceable and usable gate. This involves purchasing a few more pins and end stops plus a length of wood. She intends to split the gate in two to make it less difficult/heavy to pull open and closed.
She has estimated the cost to be around £150. Although this is an unforeseen cost it would be sensible to look at the bigger picture: a local contractor suggested its full replacement, which would have cost circa £900. The same contractor also quoted circa £300 to paint it - it only cost us £35 or so in the end.
These savings have only been possible due to the goodwill and sharing out of tasks by members of the company. I discovered tonight that No. 15 just had their lift serviced - this alone cost them £6000.
I would anticipate that should we have gone down the route of assigning a Property Management Company to run our affairs we would have made a lot less progress, costs would have escalated and the result would have been the reluctance to have any works done and a property worth less and less.
I believe we have saved substantially by seeking our own quotes and doing what we can personally - despite it taking quite a bit of effort. At least the house is ours - as is the Management Company.
No. 6 for example have their affairs run by a maintenance company who seem to make things difficult. The bulk of the residents do not seem too interested. To the extent that when the scaffolding went up to replace the roof none of the residents mentioned to the workmen that it was the back that was being replaced, not the front. A touch of apathy.
While JV was working on the gate, and due to the torrential rain, she noticed that rain water was pouring down the guttering fall pipe and all over the rear wall and kitchen window of Flat 2. She suspects this may be a major contributor to the damp there on the inside.
She has offered, with the assistance of KM, to inspect the guttering and clear the apparent blockage. This is a generous offer but again will save the company a lot of money. I know York council charge £140 to clean guttering out.
I have today received documents from the Inland Revenue and Companies House. I need to inform the IR of our employee status and with CH I need to file our Annual Return (before January 2005) - I shall be doing both this weekend.
Regarding maintenance of existing parts, I shall be setting up a small asset register which will serve as a database to record what maintenance has taken place on what asset at what time. It will also be used to schedule in future expected maintenance and will be helpful for budgeting. Certain asset maintenance frequency is stipulated in the lease/covenants which we are bound by.
Finally, TB at No. 6 has sent me a few more pictures of the garden and Crescent, I have attached these randomly.
Secretary
DB has investigated the cost of replacing the communal carpet as it is in ever worsening condition. He got a quote from Sinclair's for a good quality carpet (wool), suitable for heavy residential/commercial wear, including fitting at £2800.
I see this as a benchmark and at the very top-end of what we as a company are prepared to pay. It does however serve as a good indicator of what we can get for our money and it is the first step. The carpet was un-patterned as this would enable maximum use of the full roll - the size is approximately 90sqm.
Ideally, I would say we were looking for a hard wearing, stain disguising, neutral, comfortable and long lasting carpet. I would hope it would last at least 10 years so whatever we pay must be accounted for over that period expenditure wise.
The roof has been expensive but should last over 100 years. Other than minor repairs, the greatest costs are likely to be block insurance; internal painting and external painting.
Let me know your thoughts on what budget we should set for this.
JV has been working on the rear car gate for several days now. She has replaced a number of pins and has had some success but found that the issue now lay with the rigidity of the wood that the track is fixed on. She found this to be rotten and has priced up replacement parts to finally make it a serviceable and usable gate. This involves purchasing a few more pins and end stops plus a length of wood. She intends to split the gate in two to make it less difficult/heavy to pull open and closed.
She has estimated the cost to be around £150. Although this is an unforeseen cost it would be sensible to look at the bigger picture: a local contractor suggested its full replacement, which would have cost circa £900. The same contractor also quoted circa £300 to paint it - it only cost us £35 or so in the end.
These savings have only been possible due to the goodwill and sharing out of tasks by members of the company. I discovered tonight that No. 15 just had their lift serviced - this alone cost them £6000.
I would anticipate that should we have gone down the route of assigning a Property Management Company to run our affairs we would have made a lot less progress, costs would have escalated and the result would have been the reluctance to have any works done and a property worth less and less.
I believe we have saved substantially by seeking our own quotes and doing what we can personally - despite it taking quite a bit of effort. At least the house is ours - as is the Management Company.
No. 6 for example have their affairs run by a maintenance company who seem to make things difficult. The bulk of the residents do not seem too interested. To the extent that when the scaffolding went up to replace the roof none of the residents mentioned to the workmen that it was the back that was being replaced, not the front. A touch of apathy.
While JV was working on the gate, and due to the torrential rain, she noticed that rain water was pouring down the guttering fall pipe and all over the rear wall and kitchen window of Flat 2. She suspects this may be a major contributor to the damp there on the inside.
She has offered, with the assistance of KM, to inspect the guttering and clear the apparent blockage. This is a generous offer but again will save the company a lot of money. I know York council charge £140 to clean guttering out.
I have today received documents from the Inland Revenue and Companies House. I need to inform the IR of our employee status and with CH I need to file our Annual Return (before January 2005) - I shall be doing both this weekend.
Regarding maintenance of existing parts, I shall be setting up a small asset register which will serve as a database to record what maintenance has taken place on what asset at what time. It will also be used to schedule in future expected maintenance and will be helpful for budgeting. Certain asset maintenance frequency is stipulated in the lease/covenants which we are bound by.
Finally, TB at No. 6 has sent me a few more pictures of the garden and Crescent, I have attached these randomly.
Secretary
posted by Admin (HC) at 12:37 am
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