Flat-Living.co.uk Environment
place for around 25 years, so you will still have an income for another
13 years.
If the upfront costs sound high, the good news is that grants are
available for renewable energy installations. You can apply online
before your system is installed and may be eligible for up to £2,000
per kWp. Contact the Low Carbon Buildings Programme for more
information (www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk)
TeLeCoMs provider
Another (and perhaps more controversial) way of generating
additional income for your block, is to allow a telecoms provider to
install a mobile phone mast on or near your building. According to O2,
on average this could generate up to £2,000 per annum, which could
be used to offset service charges - as well as guaranteeing residents a
great signal on their mobile phones.
This may not be enough to convince leaseholders or the planning
authorities that the installation should go ahead. Unlike solar panels,
mobile masts do require planning permission, and even the phone
companies admit that gaining the appropriate permissions can be a
long drawn out process.
In the past there have also been concerns raised about the
possible health risks associated with mobile phone masts. If you
are approached by a site acquisition agent for one of the phone
companies, your first step should be to take legal advice to ensure
that you fully understand the details of the contract you are entering
into. You should also appoint a chartered building surveyor to assess
the impact, if any, on the fabric of your building. And there will almost
certainly be insurance implications so consult your insurance provider
sooner rather than later.
For more information on phone masts, contact the estates
departments of the mobile phone companies or go to www.
mobilemastinfo.com.
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