Service Charges
In normal circumstances, when an estate is properly managed a planned maintenance programme is developed to identify items of expenditure and life cycle costing for major works, such as painting and replacement of window frames, fascia boards and soffits, roof maintenance and rainwater goods, electrical service installations and fire detection, this would be carried out on a regular basis. Normal provision for maintenance costs such as above would then be included in the service charges demand.
However, in the case of the Anchorage, due to the complete failure to carry out planned maintenance between (1997 and 2007) such as the external painting of wooden window frames and entrance porches and much else, this has contributed to serious decay and warping of the timber elements making it impossible to include reliable costing within the service charges demand.
The production of costing required Chartered Building Surveyors to inspect the fabric of the estate buildings and the production of a report that contains within it a budget costing; this can be used as the basis for setting the revised service charge demand.
From the comparison of service charges for other estates it can be seen that the Anchorage Estate, although in one of the most prestigious locations on the waterfront pays the lowest service charge.
Introduction
The Report contains information relating to the Management of The Anchorage, the difficulties in carrying out Maintenance due to lack of Funding due to Managing Companies and Agents failing to address routine and planned maintenance and ensuring that funding was available and the losses suffered by the estate from 1997 to 2007.
The document has been sent out to Property Owners who either occupy or let their Apartments on the Estate. Included in the pack sent out to owners was a ballot paper that asked for their view on serious issues relating to funding and maintenance of the properties.
The original return date for the ballot forms was the 30th August 2010, but following requests from owners due to the holiday period the closing date has been extended to 10th September 2010
Estates Report 2010
