Capital Services, John Burton, Dominic Clarke and Mike Edmunds have all failed between them to respond to the letter.
Jenny Rowlands, CEO of Camden Council has now been contacted. She has been asked to accept the offer of extra time to respond, by close of business on 10 May 2019. We are ready to proceed with our escalation processess involving external parties, if required.
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The first letter outlining leaseholders' concerns, which had text and questions agreed by the group, was sent to Camden Council on 11 April 2019.
We await its response by close of business on 29 April 2019. A window very close to your door or the neighbour's is likely to be one unit and will NOT be changed. This is contrary to what we were advised and even the markings made during planning on the windows themselves. They may be changed in a few years time when the doors are changed as part of the fire saftey improvement plan (in light of Grenfell). Are we going to receive a reduction in charges for fewer windows being installed? Is the council in breach of National Heritage guidelines for damaging the look of the grade II* building by having mismatching windows in the medium term? Who will pick up the bill for needing to have contractors come back to do windows alongside doors (less efficient)?
Windows have been left without a trim. This is because there was a dispute between the contractor and the council about what should be used; wood or uPVC. The former will be applied but if this costly accessory has not been accounted for who will pick up the bill for it? Reports of the contractors and work has so far been satisfactory, sometimes even completing work sooner than estimated. However, you should be aware that the contractors do leave doors open and unattended so if you will not be present then there is a security risk to your property. It is not clear how Wates and/or Camden Council is choosing which flats get their windows installed first in each block. Other [social housing] tenants on the same floor or above/below have not been contacted in some cases. Please report if you, as a leaseholder, have had your windows done first in your block.
Are we being prioritised because we are paying for them or does the council want to get them done sooner so that they can invoice us sooner? A number of leaseholders have discovered, purely by accident, that the payment request is on hold. Where work has started the council is entitled to start charging but in w/c 25 March 2019 this was put on hold for leaseholders that had received an invoice (phase 1 blocks). Leaseholders are advised to check directly with leaseholder services. While we welcome this hold we have not been advised why they have done it and why they have failed to let leaseholders know, some of whom will have set up payment plans and made their first payment. If the council do write to leaseholders to let them know who is going to foot the bill for writing/sending the letters, including postage?
Coincidentally, we understand that Camden Council became aware of this web site at the end of last month. Hello, Camden Council! Agenda
9-11am 1. Welcome by chair 2. Leaseholder introductions 3. Discussions of main concerns/information 4. Action plan 5. AOB |
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Keep up to date with the main actions taken by the group. Not all information or activity is divulged publicly. Archives
September 2019
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