Geoff Pearse
Recent activity
Comments (4)
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Comment on: Shapps knocked back on plans to scrap TSA
I'm not sure the criticism of Shapps is fair. A strong regulatory system is urgently needed, including licensing and it needs a fresh outlook on the issue that Shapps seems to have. As far as I can tell from what little experience I've had with the TSA, they are good on basic regulation with regard to control of eg management fee limits, but shoo away individual residents complaints or queries as not being in their remit. This is where we, as residents need to have some clout from somewhere, especially now that CARLEX is struggling to regain its momentum. I think the TSA is also on a learning curve on leasehold matters.
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Comment on: Shapps to scrap Tenant Services Authority
Roger Murphy - 'I'm sorry I'm not a home-owner'
I'm not sure if you mean a private house owner or what at least one managing agent is using the term for leaseholders living in properties that the agent owns? If the latter beware of what you wish for! The managing agent, even if a HA, adopts the same overbearing attitude and power over its paymasters as apparently happens on rented estates. Even worse, they try and usually succeed in extracting uncontrolled of service charges from elderly retireds, many who struggle on state pensions. Ours takes the attitude that if you can't afford to pay what we ask, claim benefits. -
Comment on: Sheltered residents: ‘bring wardens back’
I'm perhaps a bit late coming into this, but my wife and I only bought our flat in December and it wasn't until discussions for the 2010/11 budget started that we realised how little power over our preferences we have. There is a resident Estate Manager living in a 2-bed rent-free flat, (ours is only 1-bed), and because of HMRC's ruling on taxability it was decided by the landlord and the agent that thay would avoid tax by increasing the manager's pay by £5780 and charge him rent. We cannot afford him and we would prefer a visiitng manager. The resident one is only available 9am-5pm anyway and we rely on a emergency call system most of the time. In any case we would expect to help other residents if needed. What has happened to self-reliance?
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Comment on: First Weaver test case to reach court
Many Housing Associations have taken on the lucrative management of leashold developments. In some cases, also established themselves as freeholder landlords as well as managing blocks for private landlords. How will this affect their legal status, if at all?
The Hanover Group have gone even further. They have recently 'rorganised' and made all their estate/housing managers equal in pay and terms of employment. In at least one case, they increased a resident EM's salary so that he could to pay the rent on his flat to a private landlord. Surely, now a 'mongrel' company?
Discussions (2)
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Provision of Resident Managers Accommodation
I'm not sure how different the situation is between leasehold and rented estates regarding this issue, but on leasehold at least it is now beyond doubt that the provision of accommodation is no lo
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Manager Accommodation 'No Longer Necessary'
The ruling by HMRC in '08 that manager's accommodation was no longer necessary for them to perform their duties raises an interesting question about whether a landlord/agent can demand that l
Posts (8)
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Posted in: Provision of Resident Managers Accommodation
Jack - your illustration of why it is no longer feasible to have resident managers on call should have scotched any counter argument to the contrary. Again, I have to say I have no knowledge about how this affects tenants, but leaseholders can look to their lease and see if the changes that have to be made, because of the post legislation now in place,need lease variation. If not, then ARHM members should be and should have been applying Sec 6 of their Code of Conduct to the changes in their scheme manager services. This would entail a meeting of all leaseholders and a ballot. It is irresponsible and negligent management if they do not do so.
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Posted in: Provision of Resident Managers Accommodation
Nigel -Thank you. At our estates, all managers whether resident or not, on rented or leasehold estates, are paid the same. But if resident they pay a rent. Duties only required during office hours although job description says '...if called out by the emergency control centre they will respond when on-site during off-duty hours.' This is contradictory to what is widely understood now, that providing an on-call service, which surely this must be, is not practicable, affordable and contrary to the EWTD and National Minimum Wage legislation? Our lease covenants the landlord to provide 'a warden service' not a 'resident' warden. No rent is mentioned and none has been charged since the date of the lease 19 years ago. So I do not see how residents can be made to pay for housing a manager.
Geoff
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Posted in: Provision of Resident Managers Accommodation
Junior - thank you for your comment. I think you have shown that there are significant differences between rented and leasehold estates although our managing agent appears to think otherwise! But that is good advice to keep bringing issues up, make sure they are noted and insist on a reply. But I'm afraid that unless it is possible to get a substantial majority of tenant or leaseholders to support a case, all that happens is a reply on the lines of corporate policy and no changes will be agreed to.
Geoff
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Posted in: Provision of Resident Managers Accommodation
I'm not sure how different the situation is between leasehold and rented estates regarding this issue, but on leasehold at least it is now beyond doubt that the provision of accommodation is no longer necessary. Recent Working Time legislation has restricted the hours a manager can work and emergencies outside working hours are the responsibiltiy of the emergency call systems. But landlords and managing agents are not taking steps to make estate managers non resident and are continuing to demand payment. Surely it is against the law to demand money for something that is unnecessary?
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Posted in: sheltered housing wardens - are they being missed?
Are they doing away with wardens altogether or are they being replaced with visiting wardens? There really is no point of having the cost of providing one on site when they are only available during 9am-5pm at the most.