BUYING A LEASEHOLD IN A PRIVATE BUILDING
You've saved up your money or your favourite aunt has died, and you want
to buy a leasehold.
You love the flat; you've moved and you intend to stay forever (and thanks
to the market slump which began the day after you signed the final papers,
it's lucky you love the flat, and if you're married, happily married, because
if you were to sell, you wouldn't get your money back).
Now look around you:
1. Join your residents' association immediately and AS you join, ask for
a copy of the constitution
how often General meetings are held
what is a quorum for the General Meeting
when was the last AGM and when is the next AGM
is being held.
If they don't provide a constitution within two weeks, they don't meet at
least three times a year, and the last AGM was over a year ago and they don't
know when the next one is being held, you know you have a Residents' Association
which is quite likely not democratic.
Why does this matter? If they're not representing the residents, these
people on your Residents' Association are representing the freeholder.
If you're the freeholder, that's good news. if you're not; not. Call for
an AGM (and if they don't have a constitution, suggest this one as a
model).
the
Constitution
If you don't have a Residents' Association in the building, think about
forming one (you can get people interested with the next crisis that happens
in the building - which includes proposed building works or service charges)
Ask your local Councillor for assistance in setting up a Residents'
Association; the Camden Federation of Private Tenants Association
provides good resource people as well, which will help yuou set up an association
for all the residents - not just tenants or leaseholders.
2. Ask your residents' Association for A Contact List for the
Freeholder's Managing Agents and Residents' Association members, so you can
complain to people if you need to complain.
(caretaker/cleaner/porter/concierge/security/ front desk
estate manager for your building
office telephone, address, e-mail
area manager (the estate manager's boss)
office telephone, address, e-mail
regional manager (the area manager's boss)
office telephone, address, e-mail
local ward councillor
office telephone, address, e-mail
Residents' Association
flat numbers for all the people on the committee and executive
(if you don't have a residents' Association, or they won't give the list
to you, compile it yourself, and pass it around to other neighbours who might
also like to complain)
3. Fire Concerns. Ask if there are Central Fire Alarms in the Communal
Corridors (and also ask, if they are connected to the Fire Department. Ask
for a Fire Emergency Drill leaflet).
If there aren't fire alarms in your communal corridors or hallways, ring
Camden Town Hall and ask for a Fire Inspector to do a Fire Risk Assessment
for your building (this is free).
Fire Prevention - Common
Questions
4. Pests. Is there a history of Pests (Vermin such as rats, mice, cockroaches)
in your building?
How often is the situation monitored?
PEST CONTROL -
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PROBLEMS? CONTACT THE CITIZEN'S ADVICE BUREAU AND YOUR
LOCAL COUNCILLOR IF YOUR RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION IS NOT DOING ITS JOB AND
YOUR BUILDING IS NOT BEING MANAGED PROPERLY.
Other advice (gardens, book exchange etc. decoration
and restoration of your building).