Flat-Living.co.uk Advice
Getting the Right Advice
Either as tenant or landlord you need proper advice. Justin Bennett of LBB Chartered
Surveyors was a surveyor in one of the earliest cases under the Leasehold Reform Housing
and Urban Development Act 1993 of Willingale v Globalgrange.
In the above case the landlord – particularly if this is one of In relation to the surveyor, dependent on your
landlord (The Langham the Central London estates or private circumstance, your needs will be different. If you
Court Hotel) failed to landlords, such as Freshwater. are selling – maybe all you need is an indication
respond to a tenant’s of price (this is known as a desktop valuation).
Notice to enfranchise
in pArTiCuLAr For
If you are definitely proceeding then you should
and had not only to soLiCiTors: obtain a formal valuation. That advice should
accept the substantially provide you with a range of values to allow
reduced price offered
You should also consider their:
for the best and worst case scenarios. Always
but also the terms of the transaction, which
1. Knowledge of company law and
budget on the worst case scenario.
meant that the hotel lost its fire escape right
Participation Agreements;
When getting this advice have the following
over the enfranchised building. The case
2. Ability to grant new leases; deal with
information available:
reached the Court of Appeal.
the Notices; and any applications
The moral behind this story is that getting
required.
1. Summary of your lease (how long and
the right advice is crucial.
in pArTiCuLAr For
ground rent);
Choosing Your Advisers:
surveYors:
2. Size of your flat (floor area with basic
room details);
You need to prioritise not just on the cost of
You should consider:
3. Location;
advice alone. You should firstly consider
1. Are they a specialist?
4. Type and nature of building – if
the credentials of the solicitor or surveyor
2. Are they prepared to offer an initial
enfranchising, number of flats and
in the following areas:
consultation without charge?
number planning to join in the process;
1. Knowledge of the law;
3. Are they able to work to your
5. Name of your landlord;
2. Experience of litigation particularly
timescales?
6. Be clear about the purpose of your
at LVT;
4. What service do they offer? For
valuation.
3. Area of expertise – geographical as
example, a desktop valuation advice
well as the legislation;
or formal advice by way of inspection
Only once you have this information ask your
4. Experience of dealing with your
and valuation only?
adviser to provide you with a quotation.
Health & Safety – Top Tips
Health and safety the public to be hurt with breakages of 9. If any works are to be carried out,
is not the most limbs and hips on the increase. ask your contractor for a copy of the
exiting subject in 3. Working at height should be kept risk assessment and method statement
the world to read minimal so use long life bulbs in high/ and when they come to do the work,
about and in fact hard to get to light fittings. Use window check with the employee that they also
most of us do not cleaners with the water fed pole systems. have this so that the works are carried
read much about 4. When choosing a contractor, ask what out in a safe manner.
it at all until a tragic accident happens and it accreditations they have – SAFEcontractor, 10. Most health and safety issues are
is in all the papers and on the news. Chas, Safe4site and Constructionline are caused by not using common sense
The good thing is, if you employ a professional all recognised and proves that the and not being aware of your surroundings -
contractor, they will have all the necessary contractor cares and practises good so if carrying out any work, check it is
training and accreditations in place so the risk health and safety. safe to do so and that all measures are
of any health and safety issue will be cut down. 5. Fire safety – check that you have a fire taken to ensure the safety of yourself
Here are some top tips to help with health risk assessment in place – this has to be and others.
and safety:- done regularly by law and could save lives. This is not an exhaustive list and each job
1. Ensure communal hallways and stairs 6. If you see something that could carried out, requires different health and safety
are clear of boxes, push chairs, bikes, potentially be a risk, do not presume measurements and as said at the beginning,
furniture and any other bulk belongings, someone else has reported it. employ a professional contractor and they will
because if there is a fire then this will cause 7. Ensure lighting in the communal areas take the worry out of health and safety for you.
obstructions when trying to evacuate is adequate and that if bulbs are out, The GOL Group offers communal cleaning
the building and for any fire fighters they are changed immediately – poor and gardening maintenance along with
trying to enter. lighting can attribute to slips and trips. specialist cleaning including graffiti removal,
2. Slips and trips hazards – make sure 8. Try and think ahead, if you have external professional carpet cleaning, hard floor
that stair nosings are secure, carpets car parks and paths that in snow and ice maintenance, junk removal, pressure washing.
are in good condition, path ways and are lethal, order your rock salt well in We are investors in people, ISO9001 and
steps have anti slip measures. According advance of the bad weather, because when 14001 credited, and have the following health
to the HSE website, slips and trips are the snow comes, supplies of rock salt are and safety accreditations – SAFEcontractor,
one of the most common reasons for very hard to get. Safe4Site, Chas and Constructionline.
08
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